The strawberry season starts in a few weeks and, in mid-December, sufficient availability of labor is still in the air. The first Moroccan temps will arrive in a dropper. About 4.000 are expected to arrive in January.

The administrative procedures and procedures for the recruitment contingent at origin from Morocco began in a timely manner, but in mid-December, the circumstances of uncertainty generated by the pandemic kept the sector in suspense. “The first temps should arrive in January and we hope they do. All of them will be endorsed by a PCR test, as required by other citizens entering Spanish territory, ”explains Rafael Domínguez, manager of Freshuelva.

"In addition to the Moroccan workers, we hope to have workforce from the community environment and it is likely that we will receive former employees from the tourism or restaurant sector," Domínguez remarks.

In addition to the Moroccan workers, we hope to have workforce from the community environment and it is likely that we will receive former employees from the tourism or restaurant sectors, ”remarks Domínguez. In any case, as one exporter comments, "the availability of labor is an issue that does not let many of us sleep and it perpetuates campaign after campaign because there are never enough workers."

On the other hand, the final decisions in the negotiations with the United Kingdom may be key in the development of the 2020-21 campaign. Great Britain constitutes the third market in volume for Huelva berries which, without an explicit agreement between the parties, should pay tariffs of 11% on strawberries and 9% on raspberries, blueberries and blackberries.

If this event were to occur, it would cause serious damage to the sector as a whole, which would reduce its competitiveness, while there could be a surplus of product in the continental market. During the transitional period, which ends on December 31, the United Kingdom has signed preferential agreements with third countries (of the Mediterranean and South America) that would place products with zero tariffs on British soil, a fact that gives a clear disadvantage to products from Spain.

Stabilized strawberry and blueberry on the rise

As has been happening in recent years, strawberry cultivation is stabilized around 6.000 hectares (specifically this year a decrease of 2% is considered, which means 6.105 hectares of cultivation), while that of blueberry will rise 7,2% and reaches 3.310. Raspberries are the most affected by the decline with a 10% drop and a reduction of 300 hectares of production. Blackberry production remains stable at around 145 hectares. Strawberry, by far the most important crop, tends to increase its earlier plantings.

Regarding the divergent behavior between blueberry and raspberry production, industry sources explain that “the strong competition from Morocco with raspberries is causing production to relocate and many Andalusian businessmen prefer to produce in the African country where there is abundant labor and cheap. The Huelva blueberry, however, remains competitive. "

The incidence of the pandemic has been reflected in a decrease in exports of red fruits by almost 6% compared to the previous season, however the turnover has been very similar, with a decrease of just 0,6%, due to to the fact that the increase in the turnover of blueberries by 14,3% has contrasted with the decrease of 3,7% of strawberries, 6,63% of raspberries and 40,7% of blackberries.

Incorporation of new markets

Freshuelva, together with Fepex and the Ministry, advances in its consolidation of new markets outside of Europe. Brazil could be the next destination in expansion for Huelva blueberries after the visit made by Rio de Janeiro delegates to the province to see the farms in situ.

From the point of view of infrastructure, the port of Huelva, the largest in surface area in Spain, is making a great investment effort to improve its infrastructures and road and rail connections with its hinterland, thanks to an investment of more than 120 million of euros.