The strawberry season in Huelva for 2025/2026 could be extended if weather conditions and market demand stay favorable, which would help offset some losses from February's storms.
The Andalusian Regional Government's Price and Market Observatory reports that, under normal circumstances, about 20% of the predicted harvest would already be collected. However, severe weather has drastically disrupted usual production and sales. During the fifth week, heavy rains caused strawberry sales to drop by approximately 50% compared to the same week last year.
As the weather improves, berry production begins to bounce back. In the latter part of the week, the first Spanish shipments reached markets like Germany, which had primarily been importing Greek strawberries until now. The supply shortage has driven prices up at both the source and destination, significantly surpassing last season's levels, especially in cities like Munich.
In raspberries, which are further along in their season, the sector estimates it has harvested about 44% of production by week eight. However, there are notable decreases compared to last year. The volume sold has declined by between 7.3% and 35.6%, according to the consulted company, which has decreased supply and driven prices higher.
Up to week eight, the average price at the source for raspberries has risen by 16.4% year-over-year, reflecting the direct impact of lower production on the markets.
The report emphasizes that the end of rains and the rise in maximum temperatures have led to increased volume and improved berry quality in recent days. However, the initial delay still affects the overall season.
Reports from the sixth week revealed that market production was approximately 17% lower for both strawberries and raspberries compared to the same period in the 2024/25 season. Initially, the estimated accumulated volumes were 38% lower for strawberries and 35% lower for raspberries.
This poor start, caused by adverse weather, explains the sector's plan to extend the harvest to reduce the impact on production and recover some of the volume lost if conditions improve.
Source: Huelva información
