Strong winds in south-eastern Spain have damaged plastic tunnels and swept fruit and blossom from trees.

The high winds, which gusted at up to 45 miles an hour at the weekend and on Monday, have damaged plastic tunnels and salad crops, such as capsicum, in the Alicante area, grower associations report.

According to Asaja-Alicante, about 50 per cent of tunnels in the Vinalopó area were destroyed with serious consequences for the crops. Citrus trees have also been hard hit with Navel Late and Salustiana oranges and Fino lemons brought to the ground. In some cases, whole branches were thrown to the ground by the force of the wind. Losses are still being assessed.

Trees in flower such as almond and early peach trees have also been damaged with blossom swept from the trees.

Further south in Almeria, grower group Coag reported that many tunnels were damaged but that crops have largely gone unharmed.

And in the Huelva region, it is persistent cold and wet weather that has caused problems to berry availability. This has been reflected in prices this week on UK wholesale markets of up to 90p for a 250g punnet of strawberries as Morocco also suffers similar conditions.

Traders and their suppliers were hopeful of a return to good volume for next week and as plants remain dormant because of the conditions, fruit availability should remain good to the end of the month.

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