The Spanish avocado production will grow this season compared to the previous one. "There are prospects of a significant increase in the production compared to last season, especially outside the Axarquía Malagueña, and the entry into production and growth of young plantations in Cádiz, Huelva, and especially in the Valencian Community," says Juan Antonio Reyes, manager of the Malaga-based company Reyes Gutiérrez.
"Yields are very good in general and are already close to the average of between 10 and 12 tons per hectare. Quality is also good thanks to the autumn rains, with calibers that are perhaps still somewhat average in those areas where water restrictions have played a decisive role," says Juan Antonio Reyes.
Reyes Gutiérrez sells around 30,000 tons of avocados and 5,000 tons of mangos every year. Its own production extends from La Axarquía to various areas in Spain, with significant growth in Cadiz, as well as in Portugal, given the entry into production of the plantations set up between 2019 and 2022.
At the moment, there is an abundant supply of avocados due to the confluence of many origins in the European markets, but Juan Antonio is optimistic, given the qualities of the Spanish production. "We are convinced that competition is good, both for the consumer and for the sector in general. Our business model, aimed at producing sustainable fruit, and our continuous investment in R+D+i allows us to keep learning, which results in higher quality fruit and greater food safety. Therefore, our product fully aligns with the market's demands and we can afford to face this competition without it affecting our business results."
For the Manager of Reyes Gutiérrez, the greatest challenge for this season will be "to continue to equip our plantations with innovations and technology to improve their efficiency, optimize costs, and grow more sustainable avocados. At Reyes Gutiérrez, we have made a strong commitment to producing organic avocados and mangoes. In fact, we've had our first 120 hectares certified for organic production on our farm in the province of Cadiz."
"We also continue looking for farms to expand our acreage. Our project to reach 1,000 hectares is still ongoing and we are looking into ways to increase the mango production in La Axarquía, as well as the avocado production in the Spanish Levante region. Also, we are planning to open a new work center in Portugal in the short term and new facilities close to the Levante productions," says Juan Antonio Reyes.
For more information:
Juan Antonio Reyes
Reyes Gutiérrez
Tel.: +34 952 50 56 06
jarg@reyesgutiérrez.com
www.reyesgutierrez.com