The Association of Strawberry Producers and Exporters of Huelva, Freshuelva, has reported that the sector has completed the 2022-2023 campaign with a total production of 243.310 tons of strawberries, which represents a decrease of 10% compared to the last campaign. , according to the data provided by the associated companies.

These figures reflect a strawberry campaign plagued by ups and downs, with a very significant impact on the weather that, at many times during the campaign, has been very detrimental, as occurred with the excessive heat recorded during planting, which forced replanting until almost 30% in some cases of the plants; or the high cold at the beginning of the year, which greatly reduced production; or, again, the excessive heat recorded in the month of April, which also had an impact on production by reducing the quality of the fruit.

This adverse situation translates into a 10% decrease in production and a slight increase in prices compared to last season, which, together with the increase in costs that the sector continues to face, results in a significant decrease in the crop profitability.

Rest of red fruits

For its part, the raspberry campaign ended with a production of 47.750 tons, which represents a decrease of 4,5% compared to the previous campaign.

In summary, the first part of the raspberry campaign was marked by low prices in the markets and, above all, by very great competition from third countries such as Morocco, which Freshuelva has been denouncing year after year before the EU, considering that Europe It should establish an entry tariff to third countries in these cases, as well as require compliance with mirror clauses.

On the other hand, the blueberry campaign has also resulted in a 10% decrease in production and a total of 53.190 tons produced. The final extension of the blueberry campaign has made it possible to recover the decline in production carried over from the first months, so that the differential with the previous campaign has been somewhat less than expected. This lower production has been due, firstly, to the delay in the arrival of low temperatures that did not allow sufficient hours of cold to accumulate - in the months of November, December and January the minimum temperatures were above the average for those dates. .

On the other hand, the cold of the last weeks of February and the beginning of March reduced the calibers. The recovery in production during April and May was met, however, with strong competition in the markets, especially from third countries such as Morocco, which caused an oversupply, a collapse in prices and a lower supply in June with the consequent price increase. It has been the most irregular blueberry campaign in recent years.

Finally, blackberry production remains at 2.000 tons similar to the previous season.

Export value

The lower production of strawberries has been accompanied, however, by a stabilization in the valuation of exports, so that until the month of May there was an increase of 0,22% compared to the same period of the previous year with exports valued at almost 571 million euros.

In the case of blueberries, the increase in the valuation of exports amounted to 1,27% with exports valued at almost 219 million euros. The largest increase was experienced by defaults, with exports valued at 14,3 million euros and an increase of 61,2%.

On the contrary, raspberry exports until May had a value of 222,5 million euros, which represents a decrease of 3,65% compared to the previous campaign.

Germany and the United Kingdom continue to be the main destination countries for red fruits from Huelva, since, in the case of strawberries and despite Brexit, British imports have surpassed French imports, which are in third place. The Netherlands, in the case of raspberries and blueberries, is the third destination for sales of berries from Huelva.