In the campaign that just ended, Almeria's tomato sector could not repeat the success of the previous campaign. This is a setback as the tomato sector has been experiencing an upward trend. The unusual heat at the beginning of the campaign affected the crops, causing an overproduction that prevented prices from reaching optimal levels. Prices experienced a slight recovery in the Christmas season and recently. However, the values have not reached last season's levels.
In the previous campaign, the average price stood at 1.02 euros per kilo, a notable increase over previous campaigns. As a result, producers increased their income. However, in the current campaign, prices have fallen to levels that make harvesting unprofitable. Some days, they barely exceeded 20 cents per kilo.
According to Adoración Blanque, secretary general of Asaja, "it wasn't a good campaign for any of the tomato varieties," with a predominance of low prices most of the time. The situation was further complicated by the entry of competitors and the increase in temperatures, calling into question the profitability of tomato cultivation in Almeria.
In contrast, the value of greenhouse pepper cultivation in Almeria has maintained greater stability. The current campaign will not reach the historical revenue levels of last year, which exceeded one million euros, but the value of the pepper is still high. This is partly due to an 8.5% increase in the production volume despite a decrease in the cultivated area, which favored the crop's profitability towards the end of the season.
Blanque emphasizes that export prices were high, but the farmer's real income was lower once warehouse expenses were deducted. Despite this, peppers continue faring well in Almeria's fruit and vegetable sector.
Source: diariodealmeria.es