The Egyptian strawberry season starts soon, in November. The sector continues to suffer from climatic and economic factors, which have a particular impact on fresh strawberries.
Elsayed Elgohary, owner of Marvel Farm, comments: "Next season, there will be less volume of fresh strawberries from Egypt. The area under cultivation has shrunk, and we've also received fewer plants. We've had great difficulty in obtaining quality plants. All these factors, combined with climate change, mean that there will be less volume."
According to the grower, the drop in fresh strawberry acreage is significant: "I estimate that acreage is down 25% on the previous season. However, fresh strawberry plants have been replaced by those destined for the frozen sector, so the total area is more or less stable."
The drop in volumes of fresh strawberries compared with frozen strawberries is due to plant quality issues, as well as the good prices received by frozen strawberries last season. According to Elgohary, prices for frozen strawberries increased by an average of 50% compared with the previous season.
"The drop in acreage and the expected drop in volumes won't necessarily translate into a poor campaign," continues Elgohary, who explains, "We're seeing that Egyptian strawberries are eagerly awaited on the markets. Climate change is also affecting other competing origins, such as Morocco, and there will be strong demand and insufficient supply."
"Strong demand is demonstrated by export figures: last season, Egypt exported 257 thousand tonnes of frozen strawberries and there are still three more months to go before the end of the season. On the other hand, the country exported 43 thousand tonnes of fresh strawberries", concludes Elgohary.
For more information:
Elsayed Elgohary
Marvel Farm
Tel.: +201002496633
Email: [email protected]