The stone fruit season has begun almost two weeks earlier than usual in some producing areas of Spain, such as Murcia, showing promising signs in terms of quality and prices. Joaquín Gómez, president of the Association of Producers and Exporters of Fruit, Table Grapes and Other Agricultural Products (Apoexpa) of the Region of Murcia, spoke about the beginning of the campaign with Efeagro. He made an optimistic balance and highlighted the effects the warm winter and good temperatures at the start of the year had on early production.
Despite the recent low temperatures and rains, which have especially affected apricot crops in Murcia and have caused frost in Catalonia and Aragon, the sector maintains good expectations. This situation contrasts with the downward trend in the production area observed in previous years, as shown by the reduction in the area dedicated to peach cultivation. According to Gomez, this downward trend is due to water use limitations and varietal renewal, as producers are looking for fruits that offer more flavor and volume.
According to producers, the sector expects a "normal" production volume per hectare this year. Even though it's still too early to make a thorough evaluation, Javier Basols, head of stone fruit at Cooperativas Agro-Alimentarias, confirmed that, so far, the production and evolution of the crops were normal. In addition, a communication campaign has been launched to promote the consumption of these fruits among people of all ages.
Currently, prices are high in supermarkets but are expected to stabilize in the coming weeks for consumers and producers. However, production costs have increased, especially in terms of labor, which could influence final sales. The "tension" with the workforce is a recurring theme in the sector. The situation in Murcia, however, is less critical because there are several harvest campaigns throughout the year.
Stone fruit exports have not reached the average in the last two campaigns, and competition from third-country products is increasing. This scenario puts pressure on the national fruit, underlining the need to maintain market share in the face of these challenges.
Source: efeagro.com