The Asociación Valenciana de Agricultores (AVA-ASAJA) (Valencian Farmers’ Association) confirms that the citrus season is entering its second half with an increase both in the rhythm of purchases and in the prices received by growers. The main reason for this improvement is to be found in a better balance between supply, which is quite short and lower than expected due to adverse weather conditions, and demand, which is growing because of the cold weather in Europe and the special interest in this fruit is arousing among consumers to prevent colds and viruses such as Covid-19.
For many varieties of oranges, prices have risen by around 10% compared to the previous season at this time of year.
The President of AVA-ASAJA, Cristóbal Aguado, affirms that “the season has taken a new turn and is leaving behind the serious marketing problems that plagued some of the most widespread varieties such as the Navelina orange or the Clemenules mandarin. Now, commercial operators are once again showing a keen interest in stocking up on sufficient citrus to be able to supply the markets over the coming months”.
Aguado believes that “the objective market factors should consolidate a positive outlook for the rest of the season. It is clear that supply is limited, especially for late oranges, due to the abundant rainfall last year and the wind in recent weeks, although it is worth noting that the Filomena squall has had a more limited and occasional effect on Valencia’s citrus-growing than in other growing areas. International demand continues to grow and is allowing both Spanish crops and those from other Mediterranean countries to be absorbed in a fluid way”.
In any case, AVA-ASAJA demands that the administrations “do not rest on their laurels in the face of this economic situation and move forward with structural measures that are still pending such as the establishment of reference indexes for production costs taking advantage of the current reform of the Ley de la Cadena Alimentaria (Law on the Food Chain), a more determined commitment to the Ley de Estructuras Agrarias (Law on Agricultural Structures), the obligation to introduce reciprocity in agreements with third countries or an improvement in specialisation and coordination of EU phytosanitary controls to stop the entry of pests and diseases”.
