Cucumbers, zucchini, and peppers experience only a few quiet weeks at Almería auctions. The pace slows down between mid-July and mid-August, but this is only a brief respite in eleven months of high production and leadership within the European fresh produce sector.
"Our forte is California and Lamuyo peppers. We started with the first green and red Lamuyos from the north of Almería, which are the earliest because it's cooler there," stated José Manuel Jódar, sales representative at the auction company Agroejido. "We had a lot of thrips issues last year; however, integrated pest management has allowed us to double our yields."
"It's been a total success against pepper thrips in Almería. Beneficial insects eat pests, so we think we won't have any pest issues this year. Growers are closely monitoring the situation."
© Agroejido
"There's less production in summer, but there still are nationally grown short and medium-length cucumbers and zucchini. Now, we're bringing in produce from Murcia, such as watermelon, melon, and pepper. We currently receive two trucks of vegetables a day. It's the only moment of the year when things are a bit quieter. In August, we'll pick up the pace to 500 tons of peppers a day. Annually, we move around 120 million kilos of fruit and vegetables. During peak periods, we work with a team of up to 500 people," Jódar stated.
© Agroejido
"This has been a great year: both growers and traders are making money. It is hot in Europe, and demand is high. There are numerous products available now, including those from Valencia and Catalonia, but prices remain high. Eggplant, for example, ranges from 80 to 90 cents. That's great for the grower," he stated.
"We've stopped growing Cantaloupe and Galia melons. We're now focusing on Amarillo melons for export, and Piel de Sapo melons for the Spanish market. Some go to Italy and France, but the majority stays here," Jódar said.
"I think Morocco is doing better and better. However, their product loses freshness in transit. Green beans, for example, have a shelf life of 10 days, but they lose half of their shelf life during transport. As a result, they're cheaper because they have to be sold quickly. The same applies to cucumbers; they must be sold quickly. In the end, consumers know how fresh a product is when they bite it. That's one of our strengths. Our products are in European stores within two days. Consumers are looking for tasty, fresh fruits and vegetables, not just low prices," Jódar stated.
For more information:
José Manuel Jódar
Sales representative
Agroejido
Tel: +34 677 40 82 38
Email: Josejodar1918@gmail.com
https://www.agroejido.com