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Stone fruit harvest decreases 30% in Murcia
Spain
Sunday 02 September 2007
Peaches, nectarines and plums harvests in Murcia Region decreased by 30% while apricots harvests decreased by 60%. For farmers, prices are going better than previous campaign but it doesn't mean a compensation for them, because there is a lack of harvest now and last year's disastrous prices left them with a lot of debts. Early peaches prices and in particular nectarines prices increased in some cases by 100% over last year. Prices increasing average is 30%.
Regarding export market, it has gone well with early varieties thanks to favorable weather in countries like France, Italy, Germany and England as they're demanding more fruit than last year in the same period. Farmers are optimistic also about late varieties such as "pavia" and "amarillo" even if all depends on European weather because if it's going to be warm there will be more product demand.
By now there's no worry about competition with other producers as Italy and Maghreb because harvests aren't synchronized. Only Greece can represent a risk for Murcia Region regarding peach destined to preserved fruit industry. In fact, it seems that Greece is going to have a 500 million Kilos peaches production of which they will use only 300 million for their industry while Murcia region offers less quantities of scarce quality and high prices. Anyway cooperatives from Murcia and preserved fruit industry associations are going to meet in order to decide prices for the product destined to this industry.
Regarding export market, it has gone well with early varieties thanks to favorable weather in countries like France, Italy, Germany and England as they're demanding more fruit than last year in the same period. Farmers are optimistic also about late varieties such as "pavia" and "amarillo" even if all depends on European weather because if it's going to be warm there will be more product demand.
By now there's no worry about competition with other producers as Italy and Maghreb because harvests aren't synchronized. Only Greece can represent a risk for Murcia Region regarding peach destined to preserved fruit industry. In fact, it seems that Greece is going to have a 500 million Kilos peaches production of which they will use only 300 million for their industry while Murcia region offers less quantities of scarce quality and high prices. Anyway cooperatives from Murcia and preserved fruit industry associations are going to meet in order to decide prices for the product destined to this industry.
