Last Saturday afternoon, a severe hailstorm caused damage to around 1,500 hectares of stone fruit orchards in Cieza, in the Spanish Region of Murcia. It affected paraguayos (Saturn peaches), peaches, nectarines and apricots that were yet to be harvested. The most affected areas are those located between Venta del Olivo and Calasparra, including Venta Reales and Carrichosa.
"It is an early zone and the campaign was about 10 days ahead compared to last year, so the storm hit when approximately 70% of the fruit had already been harvested in the affected areas," says Joaquín Gómez, president of Apoexpa.
"We are talking about the direct loss of about 5,000 tons of fruit from later varieties which won't reach the market. However, If we hadn't been 10 days ahead, we could be talking about the loss of 50,000 tons, instead of 5,000," says the representative of this Murcian association of producers and exporters.
Almost 30 liters per square meter of rainfall were recorded in Cieza, according to data from the Segura Hydrographic Confederation (CHS). In the coming days, the extent of the damages will continue to be assessed so that aid can be requested.
The stone fruit campaign is already in its final phase in the Region of Murcia and will soon be followed by the table grape season.
"At the moment, the campaign is already underway in several producing areas in various parts of Spain, and there's noticeable competition. We have a strong week left in terms of volumes, and the table grape season will start at the end of this month in Mazarrón and Águilas, mainly."
For more information:
APOEXPA
C. San Martín de Porres, 3,
30001 Murcia, Spain.
T: +34 968 20 48 72
[email protected]
apoexpa.es