FROM NECESSITY TO LUXURY: FUTURE OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES IN SPAIN UNCERTAIN.

In Spain, the price of fresh vegetables increased by 27.8% in March compared to the same period of the previous year and by 5.7% compared to last month. Furthermore, even vegetable-based preparations, such as fresh-cut products, increased by 15% compared to the same month of the previous year. Only in the case of fresh fruit was there a slight drop in prices, equal to 0.1% compared to February, but with an increase on an annual basis of 5.6%.

A spokesperson for the agricultural industry argued that increasing prices is the only viable way for the primary sector, and in particular for the fruit and vegetable sector, to cope to all the conjunctures that producers have to face.

Up until a few months ago, frost, hail or short periods of heavy rain had been identified as the determining factors of the price and quality of the crops, while today the agenda is marked by drought which generally affects all of Spain and farmers are starting to report the short and long-term effects that could arise from the lack of rain. From one region we get to highlight how the limited availability of water could even lead to the lack of crops for the summer, a situation that would also occur in another region.

Declining yields of stone fruit and citrus fruits are an example of how drought negatively affects producers’ income. Indeed, several of them are reportedly considering the idea of abandoning citrus cultivation due to its low profitability, as has already happened with green beans.

While producers suffer, during the summer, the retail prices of melons and watermelons reached unprecedented levels, with a peak caused by the concomitance of the end of imports from Morocco, delays in harvests and low spring temperatures.

Although every year is different, it is believed that fresh fruit and vegetables will undergo a significant increase in prices in the coming years. This seems to be the only viable solution for the sector since, without it, farmers will not be able to cope with the increase in production costs. According to a spokesperson, the future looks complicated and ultimately consumers will be forced to “pay more” for fruit and vegetables.

A researcher affiliated with the International Agri-Food Campus of Excellence and a member of the government’s drought expert committee argues that the effects of drought on crops can, however, be mitigated through the use of new technologies and adapt to this situation, which has now become structural, even with palliative measures is of vital importance both for producers in order not to lose their crops, and to prevent consumers from seeing fruit and vegetables transform into inaccessible luxury goods.

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09 May 2023