HM.Clause Ibérica currently holds over 50% of the courgette seed market share in Spain—rising to around 60% in Almería. Far from being seen as a “lesser crop,” courgette has become highly professionalised in the hands of farmers aiming for excellence, covering 12,500 hectares nationwide, including 9,000 in Almería.
Rafael Bonet, Managing Director of the seed company, reviewed the firm’s history with this crop during the event Courgette Specialists: Challenges and Threats in Production, held on 24 April. He emphasised the company’s commitment to quality and innovation since the 1980s, recalling how they responded to the New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) crisis with Dharma—the first resistant variety—and announced that in 2025, they will offer a full range of varieties resistant to all crop cycles.
New threats
Manuel Porras, Development Manager, addressed plant health challenges during the early cycle and warned that “new viruses are coming.”
In a talk titled Monitoring and epidemic of viruses affecting cucurbits in Spain, Pedro Gómez, researcher at CEBAS-CSIC, warned of the growing impact of viruses on courgette, melon, watermelon and squash, highlighting that between 20% and 40% of production can be lost to viral diseases. His lab has been monitoring plant health since 2011, both in greenhouses and open fields, and has detected a high incidence of viruses causing yellowing, mosaics and mixed infections.
Today, around 28 viruses threaten cucurbit production across the Mediterranean basin. Half are transmitted by aphids, and 29% by whiteflies. Gómez focused on two major concerns. First, CABYV (Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus), transmitted by aphids and now present throughout the Mediterranean. Though it emerged in 2003 and growers had learned to manage it, a more aggressive variant has spread since 2020, causing flower and fruit abortion and yield losses of up to 30% in courgette.
The second major concern is PABYV, first detected in Spain in 2018. It is spreading in courgette and watermelon crops, causing yellowing symptoms.
Gómez stressed the importance of early detection, monitoring, and the use of resistant varieties as key strategies to mitigate impact. He also recommended keeping protective nets on crops as long as possible during critical periods to prevent early vector colonisation.
Fresh produce and loyalty
Salvador Di Deco, Business Development Manager at Dunnhumby Spain (Tesco Group), analysed evolving consumer preferences in a context shaped by inflation, post-Covid recovery and retail transformation.
Shoppers seek a balance between price, quality and sustainability, with fresh produce standing out as a key differentiator and a driver of loyalty.
Saving remains a top priority. Promotions are still widespread in retail, and private labels are “growing tremendously” in markets like France, Italy and Spain.
Consumers now value quality, variety and store brands more than fast shopping experiences.
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Specialist retailers are gaining ground, particularly in categories such as organic, health and beauty. At the same time, shopping experience is becoming more important. According to Di Deco, fresh produce plays a key role: “Customer satisfaction with fresh products is critical to building emotional connections between consumers and retailers across Europe.” This is especially relevant for regional chains.
Meanwhile, AI and e-commerce are opening up new opportunities—particularly in personalisation and efficiency—although fresh produce still generates some distrust among online shoppers.
Much more than water and fibre
Courgette has numerous nutritional properties. Beyond the myth that it’s just water and fibre, agri-food R&D consultant Ana Molina reminded the audience that it is low in calories and a natural source of fibre, folic acid and vitamin C. These nutrients have health claims recognised under EU legislation—an opportunity for the fruit and vegetable sector to promote this product with scientifically backed messages.
As Molina pointed out, “not everything works for everything.” In the case of courgette, it is valid to say that it contains:
– Fibre (supports digestive health, reduces the risk of colon cancer and has a prebiotic effect on the microbiota);
– Folic acid (essential during pregnancy, helps combat fatigue, and aids amino acid metabolism);
– Vitamin C (a powerful antioxidant that helps the body absorb plant-based iron and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cellular ageing).
Molina encouraged the sector to explore the nutritional characteristics of fruit and vegetables to communicate more effectively and stand out in an increasingly health- and sustainability-driven market.
