The warmth of autumn, the non-existent rains and the strong winds aren't helping Spain's artichokes, which are yielding smaller calibres than usual. The plants haven't been able to grow normally because of the weather and the farmers expect it to rain so that the harvest is balanced.
Although, according to estimates from Asaja, this year the surface area for this vegetable increased by 5%, expectations are that this year's production will be similar to last year's because the vegetable isn't reaching the sizes it should. The same is happening to the cauliflower and broccoli, as they are coming late as has happened to the pomegranate and other fruits and vegetables.
Among all the winter products, the artichoke is the star, said Pedro Valero, president of Asaja. However, he notes, we are longing for the rain and fear the frosts. Temperatures have dropped and the vegetable will be affected if there's no rain. The forecasts, however, are that it's going to rain this week. We hope these rains improve the crops, especially once the weekend starts. Valero explained that the artichokes needed " the combination of water and cold weather to grow hard."
Currently this product's price is good because it is scarce. In spring, when the product is at its highest point of production, prices will stabilize.
Source: Laverdad.es