“If we add all these increases to the price of the produce, we would end up having articles that are much more expensive to eat. This could lead to a dangerous trend, causing a change in consumer habits, in terms of buying frozen produce or directly changing to another category instead of buying fresh goods,” Ángel García, Manager of Soltir, explains.
In addition to the increases in inputs, which had already occurred previously, the farmers from Campo de Cartagena have had to face up to a rise in the price of water, the most valuable asset in the area, which has gone from 28 cents per cubic metre to 42.“We can take this increase on thanks to the rising price of vegetables, but we are now reaching our limit,” García affirms.
In spite of everything, 2023 was a good year and the prospects for 2024 are positive, with the same productions and the same volumes, with the exception of artichokes, which are dropping by 20%. “Our members are tired of fighting with artichokes in the fields and still not obtaining enough yield to make the crop profitable.”
Other negative factors that are looming over this crop are the need for large amounts of water, rainfall and cold weather, aspects that are becoming more unusual every day. “This year, it is highly possible that there will be 30% less artichoke production in general, and in Campo de Cartagena 20% less.”
This is the complete opposite to broad bean production, which has recovered up to almost one million kilos.
Regarding the pepper campaign, Soltir, the largest Lamuyo pepper producer in the Region of Murcia, is maintaining the same production forecast as for previous years, around 400 hectares. In contrast to what is happening with other vegetables, peppers are being favourably affected by the warm temperatures and a good start to the harvest in mid-March is being predicted.
Infrastructures
To its surface area of 15,000 metres, the Organisation of Producers from Murcia has an extension project pending that would add a new 5,000 metre building for handling, although it was originally abandoned due to the increase in costs. “However, we have made small modifications, such as the enlargement of the cardboard area and the changeover of the production area in the auction room to preparation. And we are not ruling out making more cold rooms.”
