The cold wet winter has hit strawberry output in Huelva. The volume of fruit harvested during February was down 60 per cent on last year, when unusually mild temperatures brought about a sharp increase in production.
However, grower-exporter association Freshuelva said the issue was one of delayed production rather than a smaller crop.
“The lower volume is generating a significant rise in prices due to the imbalance between supply and demand,” manager Rafael Domínguez told El Economista Andalucía. “Prices are on average 20 per cent higher than last year as a result of the decrease.”
Producers had hoped that the season would get back on track in mid-February, but heavy rainfall has meant that volumes are still 20-25 per cent down on last year.
The annual has hovered around 260,000 tonnes in recent years, and while initial forecasts pointed to a crop of between 270,000 tonnes and 300,000 tonnes for 2016/17, the actual volume will be nearer the five-year average according to Freshuelva.
About 85 per cent of this is exported, with Germany, France and the UK being the three biggest markets.
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