Fruit Today magazine talked to Vicente Bayona, Manager of Tropical Bayper and one of the pioneers in the introduction of this fruit in Valencia.
How did the Lamb Hass season close?
With positive numbers and a campaign which, both for producers and for marketers, can be qualified as positive.
You, as a plant distributor company from Viveros Brokaw, are very up to date about the development of the sector.
Yes, indeed. Requests for plants by farmers are very high, a clear sign that the crop continues to be in full expansion. We even already have some reservations made for next year.
I surmise that it is a very firm commitment.
Of course. One matter that we are very determined about is that they must be planted in the regions or areas with highly suitable micro-climates. The region of Les Valls was a pioneer in this introduction, but now the crop has extended along the northern area of Castellón, through Benicassim, through the region of La Safor and also in Villavieja and Betxí. Another of our commitments involves being respectful with the crops and with the environment.
Do avocados consume as much water as is claimed?
No, it is a myth. The truth is that they consume the same litres as citrus trees. The evidence is there: in the Valencian irrigation communities no more water is destined to avocados than to citrus fruit trees.
Have we gained more knowledge about the ripening of the Lamb Hass variety?
Yes, and it is being carried out in an effective way, both at the source and by the buyers. Technology has played its role because we already have access to the verification of the dry matter. The system has worked; it is fast and it provides real information about when the variety’s harvest should be started.
What new developments have been introduced in the preparation centre?
We have increased our chilling capacity and we have introduced more repacking lines, both in nets and in flow packs, in addition to all the technology necessary to reach the distribution platforms.
