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Spanish table grape, production drop by 25%
Spain
Friday 07 September 2007
The farmers’ Association of the Community of Valencia AVA-ASAJA forecasts a reduction by 25% of the table grape output for the current campaign in the Valencia region and in the Denomination of Origin area of Utiel-Requena.
Such volume drop has been caused by the unusual weather conditions: the warm winter, low temperatures in spring and fresh climate in August have altered the normal ripening process.
It is also still influential last season’s drought, which had already caused a strong reduction of volumes; furthermore, this summer hailstorms have affected the trunks, therefore the fruit trees’ productivity.
Despite the diminished volumes, the phytosanitary state and the quality of grapes is assured, so that “there is no reason to fear that farmers won’t get adequate profits”, commented Cristóbal Aguado, AVA-ASAJA president.
The professional association has however drawn the attention to the fact that producers have progressively to face higher and higher production costs, as a consequence to the scarcity of workforce for the harvest and the increase of fungicides.
Such volume drop has been caused by the unusual weather conditions: the warm winter, low temperatures in spring and fresh climate in August have altered the normal ripening process.
It is also still influential last season’s drought, which had already caused a strong reduction of volumes; furthermore, this summer hailstorms have affected the trunks, therefore the fruit trees’ productivity.
Despite the diminished volumes, the phytosanitary state and the quality of grapes is assured, so that “there is no reason to fear that farmers won’t get adequate profits”, commented Cristóbal Aguado, AVA-ASAJA president.
The professional association has however drawn the attention to the fact that producers have progressively to face higher and higher production costs, as a consequence to the scarcity of workforce for the harvest and the increase of fungicides.
