The Association of Strawberry Producers and Exporters of Huelva, Freshuelva, reported in the second half of July that the sector has completed the 2021-2022 campaign with a total production of 270.120 tons, which represents a decrease of 4% compared to Last season. On the other hand, according to the statistical data provided by the associated companies, the average sales price has experienced a growth of 2,80% which, however, has not compensated for the increase in production costs, with which farmers have seen reduced the profitability of its crops, a thesis defended by Freshuelva in its balance of the 2021/22 campaign.

Meteorological adversities once again marked a strawberry campaign that began with a small amount of fruit due to the cold of December and January, although this, at the beginning and throughout the campaign, was a fruit of great quality both in taste and in color and resistance. . Added to this is that in the current campaign a good part of the production has had to be allocated to industry due to the heat of the last weeks of the campaign, reducing fresh sales, but reaching the final consumer with a very acceptable product, according to sources. of the sector.

The transporters' strike completely affected the marketing campaign after collecting 270.120 tons of strawberries

In addition to the increase in costs and meteorological adversities, the sector has had to face complications in marketing derived from the national transport strike that occurred in the month of March, precisely at a peak moment of the campaign. of the strawberry.

This year, the season has not been extended longer in June because at the end of April and May the temperatures were higher than in previous years and have favored the entry into the market of productions from European countries that compete with the Spanish strawberry at the end of the campaign.

As for the raspberry, another of the star fruits of the Huelva countryside, its production was 49.990 tons, with an increase of 7,5% compared to the previous campaign. Likewise, the average sales price experienced an increase of 1,5%. And the raspberry has remained very stable in demand and price throughout practically the entire campaign, in addition to having a high quality status in practically all varieties, positioning itself better in the European markets and, therefore, gaining presence and growing. after a good campaign.

Good result for raspberries and significant increase in blueberries (+20,2%), but the price falls

Although the largest increase in production of Huelva berries has been recorded in the 2021/22 campaign for blueberries, which, with a total of 59.100 tons, has registered an increase of 20,2% compared to the previous year. This is due to the fact that the most recent plantations reach their full productive potential over the years. However, this increase contrasts with a high decrease in the average sales price of 18%. Although the beginning of the campaign was marked by a delay in ripening in the first months of the year, later the high temperatures in May led to rapid ripening.

This situation has caused that in this campaign the productions of different varieties, and also of other origins, coincide in time, and an excess of supply in the markets, with the consequent drastic drop in its price for several weeks, which has led because it has been a very difficult season for blueberry producers.

Finally, blackberry production remains at 2.000 tons similar to the previous campaign, although the current one has also been marked by a decrease in the average price, in this case of 6%.

Germany and the United Kingdom continue to be the main destination countries for Huelva berries, and, in the case of strawberries, 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 Huelva red fruits.

Lack of water and similar number of hectares in the new campaign

The strawberry sector of Huelva had almost completed at the beginning of September the preparation of the land for the production of the next campaign, carrying out the work of fertilizer, hilling of the land and disinfection, as well as the placement of plastics and the installations. of the irrigations. The main fear is the drought that is being suffered, considering that this year the lack of water will be a limiting factor when planting.

This was stated by the manager of the Association of Strawberry Producers and Exporters of Huelva (Freshuelva), Rafael Domínguez, who pointed out that now "we have to wait until the end of September or beginning of October to begin the planting of the varieties." "early", while the seasonal ones will be planted in mid-October.

Likewise, Domínguez indicated that it is still early to specify the number of hectares that will be planted, but it will be a figure similar to that of the last campaign, when the 6.100 hectares planted were exceeded, since "the area planted with strawberries has been quite fixed since recent years” and there are no “major variations” because “there is no water.” Other problems are added to the sector, such as the increase in inputs, due to the fact that the fertilizer "is almost double that of last year", as well as the price of the plastics used for the alomado, as well as the electrical energy necessary for irrigation “is through the roof.” “These first expenses already represent a significant handicap and an increase in raw material costs.”