The low temperatures and frost affected the artichoke production in the areas of the Valley of Guadalentín in the Region of Murcia, mainly in Lorca, and Navarra. The regions of Vega Baja and Baix Vinalopó were the only areas where the harvest wasn't affected. As a result of the scarcity of supply, artichoke prices have increased.
“We sold the product at a loss until mid-January due to the increase in costs and because we had to advance the harvest due to heat issues. As a result, there was an oversupply of artichoke, demand fell, and prices plummeted. It was a disaster,” stated Bartolome Ramirez, the technical director of SAT Olé, the largest artichoke exporting company in Spain. Last year, there was a 40% decrease in production as temperatures were warmer than normal until well into December and there was a lack of water, which affected production and product quality, causing prices to fall by 40% on average, he added.
Now, the price of the artichoke of Vega Baja del Segura has skyrocketed. On average, it's being sold at a minimum of 1.64 euro per kilo at origin, but it can reach 2.5 euro in the market. The artichoke for the canning industry is being sold for nearly one euro per kilo.
Bartolome Ramirez and Antonio Angel Hurtado, president of the Alcachofa de la Vega Baja del Segura Association, trust that -in this period- producers will be able to compensate for the losses they've had until mid-January.
However, these higher prices at source also translate into higher consumer prices. Artichokes are being sold at 4 and 5 euro per kilo in supermarkets. “There are two and a half months of production left and we expect the price to maintain a coherent line. However, it's ludicrous that they are sold at 4 to 5 euro in supermarkets when only 30% to 40% of the artichoke can be consumed,” Hurtado stated.
Source: informacion.es