The first new Spanish Calinda strawberries recently arrived at Special Fruit. This Belgian company's Polina Valkanova says the market eagerly anticipated this new harvest. "After a difficult December with lower quality import strawberries, mainly from Egypt and Morocco, we received plenty of inquiries about the new Calindas," begins the product manager.
The Flemish trader speaks of a promising start to the new season. "We're delighted with the new crop's quality. The lower to normal temperatures at the beginning of the season had a good effect on the strawberries' quality. However, the cold weather forecast for this week could somewhat delay production."
Growing demand
Special Fruit is generally hopeful about the volumes they expect for the coming season. "Last year's production suffered from the extreme cold in January and February. Provided the weather stays favorable, we hope for a higher yield this year. Our growers invested in more than 10 million Calinda plants this year, which should yield 4,000+ tons in the long term," says Polina.
She sees a growing demand for Calinda strawberries in the European market, where Special Fruit's largest markets are Scandinavia, the Baltic States, and the Benelux. "Until Dutch and Belgian production increases again, our customers appreciate this season's intense, sweet flavor and long shelf life. Also, IFAPA research shows that Calinda is the healthiest variety among Huelva strawberries. They have the most vitamin C and antioxidants, which can be an extra incentive these days."
"Calinda can stay competitive when volumes from the Netherlands and Belgium start genuinely rising from mid-April. Nevertheless, it remains tough to compete with local products. When the quality is similar, Belgian and Dutch clients and traders quickly turn to local strawberries. But, especially our Scandinavian buyers often stay loyal to Calinda even after that point in the season. That seems mainly because of the favorable price/quality ratio," Polina explains.
Drought: a critical issue
Special Fruit should be able to offer its Calinda strawberries again until early June. Climate change, though, brings its challenges. "Temperatures have been higher and the weather unpredictable for some time now. That definitely affects the supply and quality in the Huelva region, known for its strawberry production."
"Guaranteeing quality is a challenge everyone must deal with as well as possible. Drought could eventually affect the season's duration, though that shouldn't cause any issues this season. With the right weather conditions and effective management of the challenges, Calinda strawberries could remain a key market player," Polina concludes.
For more information:
Polina Valkanova
Special Fruit
36 Europa Street
2321, Meer, Belgium
Tel.: +32 (0) 331 70 660
polina.valkanova@specialfruit.be
www.specialfruit.be