Strawberry crop -21%, satisfactory prices

Additionally, with respect to last year there has been an increase by 8.4% in the average market price, registering a final turnover of 365.7 million euros.
The total produce output has reached 250,540 tons - meaning a reduction by 21.5% compared to last year - of which 188,340 tons have been destined for fresh consumptions and 62,200 tons for industry.
José Manuel Romero, president of Freshuelva, commented: “Until March the campaign went very well, but temperatures in April and May reduced production and although there has been a final recovery, market competition has led to a significant reduction during the last part of the campaign”. That’s why for the next campaign growers are discussing the possibility of an “advanced” harvest, especially as countries like Germany, France, Italy or Romania, from May onwards, have their own production - and Spanish sales fall. Due to the low prices actually some fields were left with a fruit surplus on them.
Romero further pointed out that there has been fewer price fluctuation during this campaign compared to previous ones. “The fact that 80% of strawberries produced in Huelva is exported to Europe, where prices are usually very stable, has also contributed to the good season”.