The Spanish stone fruit campaign is starting against the backdrop of some periods of constant rainfall and hailstorms in various production areas, which have contributed to a sustained supply forecast, even though there won't be a large production. The region of Extremadura, one of the least affected by adverse weather conditions, is starting its first harvests this week with a very limited supply and generally stable volume forecasts, although there could occasionally be some plum shortages.
"Stone fruit requires cross-pollination, and the constant rains during the flowering period in March have resulted in us having less fruit than we are used to at this time of year," says José María Naranjo, Sales & Market Development at Tany Nature.
"In general, there has been a delay in fruit ripening across Spain, as the weather has been cooler than usual in May, while in several European countries it is drier and more summery, which is driving demand," he says.
José María Naranjo says that, besides some incidents within very specific areas, production in Extremadura has been the least affected by hail so far. "Fruit production should be fairly good in terms of quality, and following the thinning process, we don't expect a bumper crop this year, although it will still be sufficient to meet demand without any problems. In the case of plums, the harvest should be similar to last year's, but perhaps with shortages at certain times."
According to the producer and marketer, "seasons like this happen once every ten or twelve years, and it is important to emphasize that the sector has done everything possible to inform the market and make the right decisions. For this reason, I believe that, although complex, the campaign will still have a smooth development without any surprises or tension, with neither oversupply nor shortages. Moreover, I don't expect any overlap between production areas, as we saw in other years."
"In Extremadura, we are very aware of the importance of keeping fields healthy to avoid post-harvest problems and obtain fruit without any phytosanitary residues. This is something we have been doing for years and which allows us to be ready to face years with more adverse weather conditions," says José María Naranjo. "At Tany Nature, with the recent addition of Vian Innovations, in charge of intellectual property management of the plant material, we can count on more rustic varieties that allow us to obtain a more stable supply in more challenging years."
Naranjo says that in a year like this, which is starting with high demand and a more limited supply, "it's important to aim for the fruit to be harvested at the optimum time. All links in the chain must remember that premature harvesting can lead to a decline in consumption."
For more information:
José María Naranjo
Tany Nature
Camino General. 1. Zurbarán. Badajoz. Spain
Tel.: +34 924 856 096
Tel.: +34627960234
[email protected]
www.tanynature.com