How is the brassicas campaign evolving?
The brassica campaign had a complicated start in the Region of Murcia. The drought and the heat that we have been suffering from since the summer have made a dent in the crops and the production volume has been limited at the very beginning of the campaign. Another added problem is that Europe has ended the season two weeks earlier than expected. This accumulation of situations has meant that we have had three very complicated weeks in which the offer did not cover the demand. Right now, the production volume is progressively recovering with the change in temperatures. Agronomically speaking, the produce is healthy and the quality is very good.
The plants have suffered from stress over the last two months; consequently, the change in temperatures that we are seeing will mean that from this week onwards the plants will vegetate and recover their volume. We are concerned that no rainfall has been forecasted in the short-term, but with the drop in temperatures we expect to recover volumes and return to normality in December. We are immersed in an extreme period of drought, meaning that we have to act with great caution. Climate change is making these last campaigns unusual and difficult to predict, although we trust that the situation will stabilise. The subject of water must be treated very cautiously, because the rain might come during the months of cold and solve the water shortage. Fortunately, we are in a region where the use of desalination plants and alternative resources can allow us, weather conditions permitting, to move forward with the crops.
We are very clear that it is not going to be a campaign with excess production; we will just try to meet the programmes already agreed upon. At present, supply is closely aligned to the demand. In other years, there was speculation on the free markets, but faced with the lack of guarantee of water and shortage of land available, we can predict that there will be no increase in the brassica harvest. In fact, the seed companies are telling us that, in the case of cauliflower, the producers have purchased fewer seeds and there might even be a reduction in cauliflower production as it is more complicated to grow.
What are your forecasts for this brassica campaign at Campo de Lorca-Cricket?
We are maintaining the volumes and produce from the last campaign and the same products: broccoli, cauliflower, artichoke, kale, white cabbage, curly cabbage and Bimi.
There will be a 10% increase in the bio segment, where we currently have broccoli and cauliflower, in line with the demands by our clients. This annual increase has been consolidated over the past three years.
Are sales and consumption remaining fluid?
Consumption is remaining fluid; there is a good supply-demand situation: as Europe ended its campaign 3 weeks before planned, there is a very high demand that is increasing with the drop in temperatures that is particularly affecting brassica consumption. In fact, in the case of broccoli and cauliflower, they are less popular in the summer heat, but now that the cold has started in Europe, they are exporting very well and the drop in temperatures will help to keep consumption active.
At Campo de Lorca-Cricket, are you going to carry out any special campaigns or actions to promote your products?
We are joining the +Brocoli campaign to promote consumption. This type of action works very well. They have an important reach and impact on consumers and also, for the past three years these promotional actions are not only being carried out in Spain, but are also reaching some strategic countries in Europe. Promoting ourselves as an association endorses the Broccoli ‘Spanish brand’ and increases the value of the broccoli sector.
At Fruit Attraction, BAMA gave you the Best Supplier award. What does this acknowledgement mean for your company?
It was an incredible honour to receive this prize for the second time given by one of the leading companies in Europe, as is Bama. This prize shows our commitment to excellence on a worldwide scale and it is a way of acknowledging our efforts. For our team, it means a great incentive to continue offering an even better service and quality, if possible.
