The company from Castellon brings together the northernmost Spanish avocado productions. Its crops spread from the county of Les Valls, passing through Plà del Moro and La Magdalena until reaching Benicàssim.
Fruit Today magazine had the chance to talk to the company’s Manager, Vicente Bayona.
How are you coping with a campaign where the drop in sizes has been so important?
Indeed, the window between the 180 and 300 g calibres is very tight. The supply on the wholesale markets is not what we would have wanted, and we are seeing how the purchasing in Mercamadrid or Mercabarna is feeling the pinch. However, the large retail sector is making use of the medium and smaller calibres.
What difficulties is the sector facing at present?
The main one that is affecting all the operators is the water shortage in the production area of Malaga, and also in Huelva. In Huelva, new plantations were started when there was no forecast of water shortages. In Valencia, a region in full expansion, we don’t have any problems, but who knows what the future will bring.
By the way, could you give me an estimate of how many avocado plants have been sold in the Valencian Community?
Seedling sales will reach 45,000 or 50,000 units for 2024. Avocado crops are on the rise all the time in this region.
What do you think the Lamb Hass campaign will be like in this region?
I think it could be highly positive and the Valencian Community could reach 10,000 t of Lamb Hass. Many supermarkets, those that are committed to the sustainability of the produce they sell, are strong advocates of Lamb Hass due to its proximity and as an alternative to importing, as long as its harvest is on time and correct.
Furthermore, there will be an important window between the Hass variety and the arrival of imported produce from Peru, and this is turning into a real opportunity between April and mid-June.
Productivity-wise, where is Lamb Hass?
The Lamb Hass will have a suitable size and it seems that the harvest will be very favourable.
What are the differences in handling Valencian avocados and the Hass?
They are handled completely differently. Our fruit must be harvested with the optimum amount of dry matter, that is to say 24%, given that they tend to acquire a dark colour. The selection must be very meticulous because when marketing, a separation must be made between the green fruit, the marbled ones, the brown and those with a darker shade.
Which are the foreign markets that best value the produce from Tropical Bayper?
The French market is one of them, but the highly demanding Swiss market also values our fruit.
Do you have any other tropical fruit?
We have a line of Canary Island produce, mainly papayas and avocados. It is a high quality line due to its proximity.
What is the solution for the foreign pests that have been introduced into our country with the imports themselves?
In Spain, we have some very demanding protocols regarding waste, which cost a great deal of money both for the farmers and for the companies. Imports have brought us pests that didn’t exist before, such as the crystalline spider, the red spider mite and dieback. Not all the inspections necessary are carried out at the ports duet to labour shortages. All of this, without mentioning the producers’ working conditions, which are nothing like ours.
