After the drop in production in January and February, the cherimoya supply on the coast of Granada increased again in March. "In spring, the cherimoya harvest is usually smaller than in the fall, but production remains very stable, which allows us to work with the fruit without any issues," says Emilio Tejerina, CEO of Frutas Tejerina.
© Frutas Tejerina
"There's a very interesting demand for cherimoyas, especially since its market has been diversified with exports to more and more countries, which has prevented prices from sinking as they used to when it was all delivered to the domestic market. At the moment, in fact, while prices still depend on sizes and quality, they amount to around 3-3.30 €/kilo, which is a price that hasn't been reached even by mangoes over the last two years of falling supply," he says.
© Frutas Tejerina
"The pest's detection has taken us all by surprise and is proving to be quite problematic"
As far as avocados are concerned, the season is gradually coming to an end in the province of Granada, where the presence of the quarantine pest Euwallacea fornicatus sensu lato, also known as ambrosia beetle, was officially detected last December
The pest has only been found in plots in the municipality of Motril, where the mandatory phytosanitary measures that the owners of the holdings (which fall totally or partially within demarcated areas) must adopt include the uprooting of the most affected trees or bushes, as well as the removal of any roots that may be buried and the immediate destruction of these remains by shredding or burning.
© Frutas Tejerina"The pest's detection has taken us all by surprise and is proving to be quite problematic. We are seeing agricultural holdings with large trees that seemed to be in perfect condition, but which have had to be uprooted and burnt to the ground, and the problem could become a very serious one if it spreads," says Emilio Tejerina.
Euwallacea fornicatus, a beetle originating from Southeast Asia, is particularly problematic because it establishes a symbiosis with fungi of the Fusarium genus and because it is polyphagous, with avocado, mango, and cherimoya species as likely targets for its attack.
"Now the season is coming to an end and, in general, there isn't that much production left, but this is precisely when the market conditions are at their best, with improved demand and attractive prices, but above all, with less competition," says Emilio.
"Things are getting harder every year because of large volumes arriving from Morocco, which is constantly investing and growing in avocado cultivation, and we have been very negatively affected by this. We have completely lost some markets and prices are getting lower and lower. However, at the moment, Moroccan avocados are very ripe and they are not holding up as well in transit to the European market as they did a few months ago, unlike the avocados from Spain, where the season is at its peak."
"Peru will start very soon and its volumes will peak in late May; however, even though they produce fruit of a very high standard, an avocado that gets to its destination in a matter of hours will never be comparable with another with a month's transit time."
"Loquat is highly appreciated and more and more export markets are opening up"
Together with cherimoyas, other subtropical species, such as sugar cane or loquats, are also part of the more exotic range from the coast of Granada. "At Frutas Tejerina, we continue to grow sugar cane, a very stable product both in terms of consumption and marketing, and in April we'll start with loquats."
© Frutas Tejerina
"The unstable weather has caused the first loquats to suffer rain-related damages, but as soon as the weather improves, a season will start which, although quite short, yields very good results every year," says Emilio.
© Frutas Tejerina
"Loquat is highly appreciated and more and more export markets are opening up," says Emilio. "It sells best in Mediterranean countries where consumption is more widespread, such as Italy or Greece, where production is not as developed as in Spain, but there are also emerging markets that are buying a lot of loquat, including Canada, where there's a very interesting demand for the fruit."
© Frutas TejerinaFor more information:Frutas Tejerina
C/Cantarranas 4, 14613 El Varadero, Motril
Granada (Spain)
Tel.: +34 958 605 150
frutastejerina@frutastejerina.com
https://frutastejerina.com/