According to the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development of the Government of Andalusia, the pepper production sold to date amounts to 25-35 percent of this year's forecasts. The quotes obtained during October and early November have caused many producers to delay their harvests waiting for higher prices, and for there to be significant amounts of pepper in the fields. This field product availability has prevented a decrease in the entry of pepper in Almeria trading houses despite the significant reduction in the temperatures experienced at the end of week 46.
According to information gathered in the field, estimates are that, as the mature product is harvested, pepper prices will increase in the coming weeks, although more slowly than other products.
Quotes for all of the analysed pepper varieties improved in week 47. The average price of pepper, however, remains below what it was in the preceding year.
The most valued pepper varieties, targeted for the export markets, are the green bell and the lamuyo.
Tomato
The high temperatures experienced since the start of the campaign until the first half of November affected the crop's physiology and led to a high supply of the product in the first weeks of the campaign. The rapid growth of tomato under high temperatures causes its skin to be thinner and more susceptible to cracking when there are changes in humidity, one of the main pathologies that have reduced the product's quality at the beginning of the campaign. The drop in temperatures has reduced production and quality.
The second category percentage decreased in week 47 below 35 percent, while it was nearly 45 percent of the last weeks of November.
Despite the slight increase in prices observed in week 47, the average price of tomato is still below acceptable levels. Only the green varieties have recorded favourable prices in this period. Expectations for the coming weeks are favourable both for the regulation of the supply and the increase of the product's quality due to low temperatures, as well as for the increase of international trade as Centra Europe's production comes to an end.
Source: hortoinfo.es