The start of the fruit and vegetable campaign has been difficult for Almeria's farmers. At the beginning of the campaign, the price of certain products has reached values of up to €0.10 per kilogram; an unsustainable figure at a time when production costs have skyrocketed. Last week, for example, the aubergine was being traded for nearly €0.25 per kilo, California peppers for less than €0.40 per kilo, and zucchini for less than €0.50 per kilo.
This week, the downward trend in prices stopped from day one, and the prices of most of the horticultural products that are grown under shelter in the province recovered.
"Prices are being driven by the increase in cold weather," stated Jose Antonio Baños, the president of the Sociedad Cooperativa Andaluza Ejidomar. "We've only had these prices for a few days, and, since the sector was paid very low prices during the campaign, they're still not good enough to compensate the sector. The weather has gotten colder this year earlier than in previous campaigns. That is a positive thing, and it's being reflected in the sale value of the products." This scenario invites the sector to be optimistic and to hope that, unlike November of last year, fruit and vegetable prices will remain stable.
This week, in some auctions, the zucchini was sold for more than €1 per kilo, cucumber increased to more than €0.75, and aubergine prices have exceeded €0.85 per kilo for a few days.
Yesterday, California peppers increased to nearly €0.80 per kilogram. "There is a limited supply of peppers because farmers saw that prices were low and decided to leave the peppers on the plants a bit longer," stated the president of Ejidomar.
Pear tomato prices stood at nearly €0.90 per kilogram, a similar value to the value of plain tomatoes.
Source: ideal.es