01.07.2011: Despite quality and prices, a drop regarding last year
Spain: Huelva strawberry production drops by 12% due to bad weather

The production from the last strawberry season, which is about to end, dropped by 12% regarding the campaign of 2009-10, going from 285,000 tons and 252,237 tons, despite good quality and good prices, as Europapress indicated.

The Vice-counsellor for Agriculture and Fishing, Juan Ignacio Serrano, pointed out yesterday, after a meeting with representatives of the fruits and vegetables sector in Huelva, that despite a drop in production, the campaign was marked by the "high quality" of fruit. According to Serrano, "there were no problems with diseases or size" and markets had "a good acceptance for the new varieties".

He highlighted that the ending of the season showed that red fruit was only negatively affected by the health alarm issued by the German government, in connection with the E.coli bacteria. Despite on going sales, the committee expected to have numbers similar to last season, that ended with 209.7 million Euro, due to a good price trends.

Fresh strawberry production was 250,000 tons while raspberry was around the 8,459 tons and for blueberry reached 5,964 tons. On the present campaign, 6,521 hectares were planted. This area is similar also to the one of 2009-2010.

More exports

Huelva exports 85% of its strawberry production, mainly to the EU. The remaining is for internal consumption.

This year, the internal market assumed a higher consumption share, since France imported more strawberry from Morocco, while Germany raised its own production.

The manager for the Huelva's Strawberry Producers and Exporters Association Rafael Domínguez Guillén, explained yesterday that the closing down of borders by Russia, due to the cucumber crisis, also forced the sector to destroy goods in trucks destined there.

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14.04.2011: Top 5 citrus exporters: Spain, South Africa, Turkey, China and U.S.
Trade in mandarins growing considerably faster than in oranges

The largest production countries of citrus fruit are in America and Asia. China is the country, where in the last couple of years the production of various kinds of citrus fruit has increased strongest. Another development is, that the trading in mandarins, of which China is the largest producer, grew considerably stronger than the trading in oranges.
 
Consumer purchases and retail
Oranges and madarins are numbers 2 and 4 on the list of fruit in the Netherlands, both when purchased in kgs. and when paid for in euro. The purchase per household of oranges decreased over the last few years. The mandarins did somewhat better than the oranges. The percentage of Dutch households purchasing grapefruit decreased from 17% to 14% during the period from 2005 - 2010 and the quantity bought decreased from 1,5 kg to 1,0 kg per household.
 
Countries of production
The five largest production countries of oranges are Brazil, the United States, India, Mexico and China. Spain, the largest producer in Europe, is number 6 on the world list. The top ten are complete when adding Iran, Italy, Indonesia and Egypt. China is without doubt the largest mandarin producer in the world, followed by Spain and Brazil. India, Mexico and Argentina are the largest production countries of lemons and limes. The United States are the largest producer of grapefruit in the world.
 
Production and export in the Mediterranean area
For the Netherlands and other European countries the Mediterranean area is the closest production area of citrusfruit. Spain, Italy, Egypt and Turkey are the largest citrus producers in the Mediterranean area. Spain and Turkey are the most important exporters. Most Mediterranean countries expect to export more madarins and lemons. Tunesia and Egypt expect to export less oranges, whilst the other Mediterranean countries expect to export more oranges. Grapefruit is expected to be exported less this season.
 
Worldtrade
The top 5 citrus exporters are Spain, South Africa, Turkey, China and the United States. The role of China as an exporter has grown strongly after 2006. The Netherlands occupied the seventh place (as re-exporter) in 2009. The top five importers are Russia, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Oranges are still the most important citrusfruit in volume in worldtrade.
 
Import into the European Union
Annually more than 2,000 million kgs of citrusfruit is imported by EU-countries from countries outside the European Union. Import is largest in the months of July, August, September and October. During November and December imports decrease again, when the European citrus harvest is in full swing. Imports of citrus fruit into the European Union come for an important part from countries in the southern hemisphere, such as South Africa and Argentina, where harvesting starts when the European season is almost over. Other important exporters of citrusfruit to the European Union are Mediterranean countries, such as Turkey, Morocco, Egypt and Israel.
 
Imports into the Netherlands
The import of citrusfruit into the Netherlands consists about half of oranges. South Africa and Spain are the two biggest exporters of oranges to the Netherlands. Imports of grapefruit and limes have increased over the last few years. The Netherlands import citrusfruit from countries in the whole world, but mainly from Spain, South Africa, Argentina, Morocco and China. Especially China has become an important supplier of citrus over the last few years.

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07.04.2011: EU: "Spanish strawberries of first class quality up to now"
The Spanish strawberry season started this year a little earlier than last year, because of favourable weather conditions. The heavy rainfall last year did the strawberry sector no good. Up to now the season is better than in 2010 as far as quantity and quality are concerned.  "In general the climate was dry in Huelva, which gives good strawberries" according to a Spanish exporter.
The Spanish strawberry season is almost halfway through. In April and May large quantities are harvested. Weather and market permitting it will continue till July. The market for strawberries is good at present. "Also the nice spring weather is a factor in the good demand and despite the fact that Dutch and Belgian strawberries are already on the market, the supermarkets still have sufficient Spanish strawberries." Prices are, according to the exporter, also on average a little higher than last year. "As long as the quality remains good, then we are positive about the remainder of the season as well."

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01.03.2011:Spanish-Italian-French Contact Group expects a good strawberries season

The Spanish-Italian-French Contact Group expects a good year as far as strawberry yield and quality are concerned. Cultivated surfaces will be similar to last year, excepted for Italy where a drop is expected. FEPEX, the Spanish export association, reported in its website of a meeting of the Spanish-French Italian Strawberry Contact Group held on Thursday, 17 of February in Perpignan. The experts confirmed good expectations for the strawberries season, both in production and quality.
For Spain, Freshuelva and Fepex (represented by their directors, respectively José María Pozancos and Rafael Domínguez Guillen) informed that the cultivated surface this year will be 6,400 ha, very similar to that of 2010. A total crop of around 245,000 tons is expected, with very high quality. French strawberry producers, gathered in the AOPN association, said they expect a total production of 30,000 tons from a total surface similar to last year.
Italian producers revealed there will be a slight reduction in cultivated surfaces compared to last year, when they totalled 3,500 ha. Next meeting of the Spanish-French Italian Strawberry Contact Group is scheduled in April for the first time in Rome, as Italy joined the Group only last year.

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28.02.2011:Spain: Strawberry and citrus exports increased 70% in 2010
Producers justify a third of sales abroad with the presence of Huelva in the fair Fruit Logistica in Berlin – This year, six companies attend the fair, they were Surexport, Grufesa, Frutas Borja, Royal Berries, Hortifrut and Onubafruit.
Strawberry and citrus export in 2010 increased between 65 and 70%, said the president of the council, Petronila Guerrero, yesterday. Freshhuelva president, Alberto Garrocho, said that strawberry companies are increasingly looking for sales in markets abroad and aiming primarily at Central Europe, understanding that “the domestic market is already supplied”.
Fruit Logistica has played an important role in this percentage of foreign sales, in regard to “making contact with superstores throughout the world and especially in European countries”. Garrocho estimates that between 30% and 35% of Huelva exports have been made at the German fair in the seven editions in which Huelva producers have been present. He added that this makes “attending and presenting our products is very important”.
According to Freshuelva data, 85% of strawberries produced in Huelva go abroad and if this sector is expanded to other berries, the percentage would shoot up to 90%. From strawberry sold in the community markets, 35% goes to Germany and 25% to France. The main markets for other berries are also in Europe: France, United Kingdom and Germany. Garrocho said yesterday that the sector is opening up new markets such as United Arab Emirates but “Europe remains being our largest customer”.

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27.02.2011:Spain: "Supply Spanish strawberries larger by the day"
The present weather conditions in Spain are good for strawberries, daily supply increases and the price is also at a normal level. From this week Dutch importer Smeding will start with a pound packing. These strawberries are imported directly from Huelva,
the red strawberry area of Spain. The province of Huelva is the largest producer of strawberries in Europe. The fruit is grown under ideal conditions and already receives  between 7 and 8 hours of sunshine daily.
In this province of Andalusia strawberries are grown on an area of about 7,000 HA. The annual crop is about 295,000 tons of strawberries; 85% of this is exported. Smeding have a number of growers in this area, who appreciate quality. These companies grow mainly new varieties of strawberries, such as Candonga, a really tasty strawberry and Camarosa.
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25.01.2011: Spain, Canned fruit and veg exports on the increase
The canning of fruit and vegetables in the province of Almeria, in 338 commercial operations, exported more than 6,000 tons of fruits and vegetables between January and October 2010.  The value of these sales, according to the Spanish Foreign Trade Institute, exceeded 7.4 million euros, 34.4% more than the same period last year. Compared to the turnover of fruits and vegetables, the export volume of canned fruit and vegetables is small, although the processed sector V range is taking significant steps, and is in twelfth place in the provincial export value, with 0.5% of total sales abroad. In the Spanish context, Almería holds the seventeenth place with 0.6% of the value of exports.
The United States is the largest customer of canned fruit and vegetables from Almería. Between January and October 2010, the country bought products worth 1.8 million euros, followed by the French, Canadians and Italians.  The French are the second most customers by 21 percent, followed by Canada (eight percent) and Italians (6.5 percent).

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19.01.2011: According to weather forecast; Strawberry harvest to begin February (Spain)

The harvesting campaign for Huelva's strawberry will be initiated at the beginning of February, to go along with the forecast of the strawberry producers, since the circumstances such as the weather, are helping to meet the expected deadlines, made in October, when the plantation begun.

Indicatiions are that this year some 6,300 hectares of fruit will be harvested, a number somewhat similar to last year.

The Strawberry Producers and Exporters Association of Huelva - Freshuelva - closed the 2009/10 campaign with a total production of strawberries of 225,800 tons, some 10% less than the previous season.

The turnover was 304,8 million Euro, 3% less than the previous campaign, despite the average price going up 5.9% due to market recovery and good quality strawberries in April and March.

This year, the strawberry campaign in Huelva counts on new native varieties, like Primoris, with 27 million plants and being marketed for the first time and the Antilla, still on the experimental phase, but will have some 600,000 plants in this season, that had an effect on the production's quality.

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06.12.2010: Huelva, Spain: Estimated 245,000 tons of berries for 2010/11

The Strawberries Producers and Exporters Association of Huelva, Freshhuelva, estimated that the 2010-11 season will count on a total of 8,169 ha of plantation divided through the whole province, corresponding to strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and blueberry. Although the expected production of strawberries is of 245,000 tons, similar to previous campaigns and that the planted area is around 6,400 ha.

According to a Freshuelva inform, despite the total of strawberry plantation being similar to the one in the previous campaign, with 6,400 ha, the area allocated to raspberry grew 5% in the present campaign, reaching the 955 ha.

As for the rest of the planted berries in the Huelva province, the plantation of blackberry dropped 15%, confirming a fall in this cultivation in the province, giving space to other red fruits. On the other hand, the blueberry experimented a rise of 15.6%, counting on 763 ha, according to data from the different companies from the same sector of Freshuelva.

This rise in hectares in the blueberry cultivation "is not directly proportional" to the rise in the production, since we're talking about a bush that starts giving fruits after three years.

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25.11.2010: Spain the biggest exporter of strawberries

Spain is the biggest exporting country of strawberries and the second one in world production, with United States in first place. Inside the national territory, Huelva keeps 90% of the production. The strawberry cultivation area in Huelva province, in the 2008/09 campaign was 6.600 hectares, which is more than the previous year's campaign. To highlight the fact that in the 2008/09 campaign, 66% of this area was under the system of Integrated Production.
The commercialized production of strawberries in this campaign reached 249.410 tons and 80% of the fresh product was marketed.

 

The strawberry campaign starts in December and ends in June. The main varieties cultivated in the 2008/09 campaign were:Camarosa, occupying 58% of the area, Candonga (18%) and in a lower percentage Ventana and Festival.
By comparison with previous campaigns there was a lower proportion of Camarosa, because of the introduction of Candonga, Ventana and others. The area was stabilized with the Festival variety. Like in other campaigns, diversification in the varieties allows for a graded production during the whole campaign.

Strawberry's exports; The main destination for Huelva's strawberries are the other European countries. To highlight as importers are France and Germany, that get 63% of the exported volume.
Exports in 2009 rose considerably compared to the previous campaign, reaching values similar to the average of the last five years.
The main kind of client of the strawberry companies is the modern distribution, mainly supermarkets, acquiring between 80 and 100% of the exported volume

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22.11.2010 From the province of Huelva -Spain: Freshuelva launches two new strawberry varieties
The new strawberry varieties from the province of Huelva will be launched by Freshuelva association this season: Primoris, with about 27 million plants, and Antilla, which is still experimental. The Primoris variety, with about 27 million plants already on ground, will be the first to be sold, while Antilla - with about 600,000 plants this season - is still experimental.
Antonio Refoyo, technical director of the company Fresas Nuevos Materiales (Strawberries New Materials, founded by Freshuelva associated companies in 1999) explained in a statement that the Primoris variety presents "a great organoleptic quality despite being an early variety, whose production will start soon, around 8-10 days before most medium cycle strawberries. Furthermore, this strawberry is very easy to harvest because the stem is very large. The fruit is conical, without lobes at the end, with a very smooth shape and a beautiful light red colour.”
During the last season one million Primoris’ experimental plants were available. Now this variety is ready to be released on the market for the forthcoming season. The domestic market will represent nearly 5%. On its side, Antilla is a medium-cycle strawberry, "with very good quality and production and a very little deformation," stated Refoyo. The current Spanish berry season will rely on a  total of 8,169 hectares of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries around the Huelva province, according to Freshuelva estimates. The expected strawberry production should be similar to the last campaign, around 245,000 tonnes.
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12.11.2010: Andalusia, greenhouse crops produce 2.5 million tons

Andalusia’s greenhouse fresh produce industry plays a role of leadership in Europe. This is demonstrated by its figures, presented at Fruit Attraction 2010 by HORTYFRUTA professional organization.  43,400 hectares for the cultivation of the major fruit and vegetables (peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants, cucumbers, melons, watermelons and green beans), more than 2,500 million Euros and 2.5 million tonnes supplies to over 60% of domestic consumer and more than 30% of European markets, reaching levels above 80% during the winter months.

The labour force is a key factor for the progress of this sector. Specifically, the greenhouse industry for the cultivation of horticultural products currently employs more than 110,000 people in the provinces of Almeria and Granada, where the major horticultural crops are located.

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12.11.2010: Spain - Squeezing citrus in over 50 countries

Zumoval S.L., a company manufacturing automatic juicers, was created in 1991. The system and finish of their designs are recognized and valued by their customers to the extent that the company has become a benchmark within its sector. In recent years the company has made great efforts to increase communication with its customers, they have introduced technological improvements in their equipment, looking to strengthen their characteristic aspects: reliability, durability and quality. Currently its equipment is sold in over 50 countries, with its main markets the European Union, Middle East, U.S. and Latin America.

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10.11.2010: Spain lagging behind in pre-cut sector
The pre-washed and ready-to-use fresh produce sector is growing at fast rate in Spain (+6% between January and August 2010, with 47,287 tons sold in the first eight months of this year, against 44,729 tons last year - according to AFHORLA data) however Italy has a larger market in this segment and a longer history. "The consumption of pre-washed and ready-to-use fruits and vegetables in Italy is around 4-5 kg pro-capita, while in Spain so far it’s only around 1.5-2 kg”, revealed to GMJ Emilio Mur, president of AFHORLA and general manager at Primaflor, Spain’s leading company in this field,
During Fruit Attraction 2010 (Madrid, 20-22 October), Primaflor managers held some business meetings with Italian entrepreneurs and experts in the fresh-cut sector.

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22.10.2010: Fruit attraction brings Spanish and foreign companies together
The event brings together over 450 exhibitors; among them are leading Spanish companies from the industry and a selection of the most important foreign companies.
Spain is still number one in the world wide ranking of fruit and vegetables export, with a market share of 9% of the total, followed by the Netherlands and the United States.
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21.10.2010: Spain - Morrocan workers needed for strawberry season
The planting of strawberries that will begin in the province of Huelva will require foreign workers despite high profile campaigns by La Junta de Andalucía to encourage the training of local workers.
Government deputy in Huelva, Manuel Bago, announced the quota of almost one thousand contracts after meeting with the Committee on Migration Flows, the Andalusian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, employers and unions. 700 Moroccan women will travel to Huelva, as they are needed, to plant strawberries, and another 264, also Moroccan, for the raspberry harvest, which will begin in the up-coming weeks.
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