"It is impossible for Europe to absorb the entire plum supply"

The plum season started late this year in Extremadura due to the impact of heavy rainfall and lack of sunshine. At first, the delay resulted in high prices because of the slow entry into production of the early varieties. The situation now is quite different, since most of the production has been concentrated in August, with a consequent fall in prices.

"August is a bad month for the consumption of plums, partly because almost everyone is on holiday," explains José Aurelio García, manager of Explum, adding that "the average price in the last month has been about 10% lower than last season."

The Fortuna variety is now in full production and takes most of the plum acreage in Extremadura, with a yield of between 20 and 30 million kilos.

According to the producer and exporter, "the situation will hopefully improve in September, coinciding with the end of the harvest of Larry Ann plums and the arrival of the Angeleno, a well-known and appreciated variety in the export markets. The harvest of the Angeleno will start with a delay of fifteen days. While last year's harvest in Extremadura finished between 13 and 15 September, this year we will actually start harvesting at that time."

Explum continues to expand its exports outside Europe, to destinations in North America and South America, as well as in North Africa, the Middle East and Asia - mainly India and Malaysia. "Extremadura's plum production companies are being forced to look for opportunities in third markets, because today it is impossible for Europe to absorb the entire Spanish supply," affirms José Aurelio García.