Vegetable production in Almeria's greenhouses is proving to be particularly difficult this season, both due to climate change and to the increasing impact of pests like Thrips parvispinus, which has damaged between 20 and 25% of the pepper production.
"Yields are low and costs continue to rise, so supply has fallen below demand and prices remain high across the board. For the time being, this is making up for the lack of produce," says Antonio Ruiz, Sales Director of Murgiverde.
The second-degree cooperative has around 1,800 hectares of its own crops, approximately 60% of which are organically grown. It also has around 200 Demeter-certified hectares. Peppers and cucumbers are its most important products in terms of volume, with Palermo peppers, vine tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, hot peppers, melon, and watermelon, amongst other products, also standing out.
"The pepper supply is scarcer than usual, with very large sizes in Almeria at this time of year, and Murcia doesn't expect to have significant volumes until between late March and early April. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, the harsh winter has delayed the harvests, so demand is expected to continue being much higher than supply in the coming weeks," says Ruiz.
According to the Sales Director of Murgiverde, around a quarter of the total pepper production in Almeria has been affected by Thrips parvispinus, so many growers will think twice before betting on this crop in the next season.
"If the impact was limited to one season, it would be bearable, but we have had two consecutive years of significant damage caused by this pest, which was first detected in ornamental plant greenhouses. Although some producers will continue to grow peppers, others will prefer less risky products, as the pest is really difficult to eradicate. We are thus expecting a reduction in the acreage for the 2025/2026 season," says Antonio Ruiz.
The proliferation of pests is playing an increasingly decisive role on an agronomic level. "New pests have appeared and there's a greater presence of others, such as red spider mites or aphids, which are more active than ever because average temperatures are rising due to climate change, which is bringing longer summers and shorter and more intense winters," says Ruiz.
"I think it's a structural problem that will only get worse and we'll have to learn to live with it with the tools allowed by European regulations. In Almeria, we will have to invest in more preventive treatments. We are currently forced to make a great effort, but Almeria's growers have always shown to be courageous and able to adapt to changes," says Murgiverde's Sales Director.
"Economic crisis in Germany is taking a big toll on the organic business"
Regarding organic trade, an essential activity for Murgiverde, Antonio Ruiz says that there has been a significant drop in sales, especially in a market as relevant for this segment as Germany, where purchasing power has been reduced by inflation and where price wars have become fiercer with the entry into play of discounters, although it is also true that they have helped boost consumption.
"Quite a few growers are giving up on organic farming, especially those who started late in this business, which is less fluctuating and speculative than conventional farming in terms of prices. However, I believe that the organic market will recover as soon as there's a return to normality on an economic level," says Antonio Ruiz.
For more information:
Antonio Ruiz
Murgiverde
Tel:: +34 950489090
arr@murgiverde.com
www.murgiverde.com