According to official figures from the Huelva area of Spain, planted area is down 20 per cent on last season and will be more in line with plantings in 2000.

A working group has also been set up by producers' association Freshuelva to look into converting more plantations to raspberry cane. Some 600ha are already under raspberry production in the region, Spain's leading soft-fruit growing area, but Freshuelva believes it could be an interesting alternative for even more strawberry producers and help the sector diversify.

Freshuelva is also holding a series of workshops next week with member companies aimed at increasing involvement in integrated production techniques and compliance and certification with ISO standards, Eurep Gap and British Retail Consortium protocols.

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