Temperatures in Huelva, Morocco and the Mediterranean basin have remained significantly higher than the usual average until late December, which has caused the strawberry harvest to start about a month in advance, due to the accelerated fruit ripening, and has also resulted in higher yields per square metre compared with the previous year at this time. In fact, since the last week of 2015, prices have plummeted by 50 percent compared to those registered in mid-December.
"While the acreage planted with strawberries has fallen again this year, volumes are higher at this time and are similar to those available in February last season," explains Rafael DomÃnguez, manager of Freshuelva.
So, right now, growers in Huelva are harvesting mid-season varieties at a similar pace as the early varieties. Such is the case of the Candonga, which surprisingly is already being harvested, when it usually arrives about three weeks later.
The weather has worsened in Europe and is not helping in the recovery of consumption, which usually falls anywhere in the month of January, after the Christmas celebrations.
The development of the weather conditions in January will be the key to the future of the campaign, according to Rafael DomÃnguez. "If in January the temperatures drop at night, the strawberry production will slow down almost until the arrival of spring. For now, the heavy rains fallen at the end of the year have not helped us at all."
We are facing an atypical campaign that will again depend on the weather conditions. "This climatological distortion is worrying and if it continues in the future, it may cause the industry to consider varietal changes," he points out.
Freshuelva will travel to Berlin for the celebration of the fair Fruit Logistica 2016, where it will have its own stand to represent Huelva's berry sector.
