Stonefruit exporters from the Spanish region of Murcia are hopeful that this year’s peach, nectarine and plum campaign could bring some much needed relief to an embattled sector, thanks to a high quality crop.
According to Alfonso Gálvez Caravaca, general secretary of regional fresh produce association Asaja Murcia, growers believe the “high levels of quality” they are achieving this season could “contribute to improving the image” of Spanish products.
Fermín Sánchez Navarro, managing director of Murcian export group Hortiberia, said that the stonefruit season “could bring new hope” to Spain’s fresh produce sector, after the collapse in prices and demand in the wake of the German E.coli outbreak.
However, Asaja Murcia said that consumption of stonefruit had fallen by as much as 35 per cent in some countries, while it said there was also a “problem” with low quality products in some markets.
For this reason, Gálvez said that several Spanish cooperatives had taken a decision this season not to harvest lower grade fruit, as a means of preventing further price decreases.
Sánchez added that there was an “urgent need” for the Spanish authorities to collaborate with the European Commission to put in place a promotional campaign for Spanish stonefruit across Europe.
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