Growers in eastern Spain count cost of hailstorms

Producers across eastern Spain are assessing the fallout of severe storms that swept through the region in the past week.

In the interior of the Valencia region and parts of Castellón, hail caused severe damage to around 12,000ha of crops including stonefruit, citrus, almonds, persimmon and some vegetables, causing millions of euros of damage, according to grower unions Ava-Asaja and La Unío.

In Murcia, the town of Jumilla, home to the well-known Jumilla Pear PDO, also suffered extensive damage to pears and other crops. Local reports said around 5,000 seasonal jobs have been put in jeopardy.

Other parts of Murcia, including Archena and Mula, were also hit. In Mula, José Miguel Marín, president of COAG, reported damage to almond, olive, and apricot groves, vineyards, and even wood.

The mayor of Archena, Patricia Fernández, said she had applied to the regional government to have the area declared a catastrophic zone.

“We stand by our farmers to help them cope with losses that could force them to cease their activity permanently,” Fernández said, noting that initial estimates point to “very significant damage” to stonefruit and citrus crops, although a detailed assessment is still pending.

Stonefruit varieties that are close to harvest have suffered splitting and rot.

However, in parts of the peninsula that avoided the hail, growers are reporting that the recent rains have been very beneficial to their crops.