Last week, the kaki harvest kicked off in the Valencian Community, Spain. "We started on September 12 and the season will last until around February 20. We are expecting good quality fruit and a similar production, compared to last year, although sizes will be smaller due to the lack of rainfall. We may also end up seeing greater losses because of the still real threat of hail storms and pests, such as thrips," says Fernando MartÃ, from Morondo.
"Nonetheless, this year, we will once again be providing our usual service throughout the entire season thanks to our field management, which is allowing us to offer fruit with the right color and hardness from the beginning to the end of the season."
"In this regard, we should point out that we are under increasing pressure from European regulators regarding the phytosanitary treatments we are allowed to use in agriculture due to the reduction in the number of authorized active ingredients, which is causing a proliferation of pests, because we don't have sufficiently efficient alternatives to keep them under control."
"I think it would be advisable to seek a balance between implementing measures to reduce the environmental impact of the use of phytosanitary products and the fight against harmful pests to ensure the survival of the agricultural sector, because in addition to the losses due to pests, there is also the cost of treatments. For thrips, for example, we will need to add a new one to those we already use, which entails a reduced profitability in a context in which costs are constantly rising."
"We must not forget that Spanish agriculture is becoming increasingly sustainable. In fact, Morondo has obtained a new certification in the efficient management and sustainable use of water. Our country has always been Europe's garden, and in order not to lose that status, European regulations should allow us to use the preventive and corrective tools that we need."
"Every year, kakis attract a lot of interest during the transition from summer to autumn fruit"
Kakis have been very well-received in both national and international markets. "It is a relatively young fruit, as the desastringency processes needed to produce them were only modernized 30 years ago, "and every year, they attract a lot of interest during the transition from summer to autumn fruit," says Fernando.
"At Morondo, we continue to work with the main wholesale markets in Spain and Europe, as well as with the main European supermarket chains. We also have clients in far-off destinations, such as Canada, and in fact, there is currently an upward trend in kaki consumption in the Canadian market."
"In Spain in general, and in the Valencian Community in particular, we have the good fortune and the challenge of being the world's largest producers of Rojo Brillante kakis, so we are the ones responsible for ensuring the product remains profitable."
"For this reason, and given that fruit consumption has been falling across the board in recent years, the work to promote our kakis has become even more important. We know that we have a great product, but there is still a certain lack of knowledge among consumers in some countries."
"That is why we appreciate all the promotional activities carried out by the Spanish Kaki Association, which Morondo is humbly joining by holding a gastronomic event with kakis as the main ingredient. In fact, after the successful experience in the previous campaign, we will be holding a new edition in 2025 and anyone interested to participate will be welcome to sign up in the coming months."
For more information:
Morondo
Industrial Sector I-1 PM 2-3
46814 La Granja de la Costera, Valencia, Spain
[email protected]
www.morondo.es