The tomato season has already started in Almeria. Volumes are still very limited, but there are very good prospects. "Quite a few growers in the higher parts of the province are already harvesting, although here on the coast we are starting a little later," says Julián Rodríguez, a tomato grower in La Cañada and member of CASI. "In my case, I will start with the harvest on Friday and that will be the beginning of the season for me."
"Compared to last year, this year's harvest will start earlier because we have been able to plant earlier thanks to the fact that we have varieties resistant to the rugose virus. It is true that these varieties take a little longer to produce tomatoes, because they have more leaf mass than the ones we have been using until now, and the size of the first products of the season will be a little smaller, but we are practically going to start harvesting around 20 days earlier than last year; and we will do so at a very good time, because there is currently a high demand for tomatoes on the market," says Julián Rodríguez.
"We have heard that, at the moment, the Netherlands is still producing tomatoes, and Morocco is still quite affected by the rugose virus. Nonetheless, regardless of what happens in other countries, in Almeria we expect to have a very good production. The weather has allowed the tomatoes to develop optimally, and with these new varieties, we are more than ready to deal with the virus, which was one of our biggest causes for concern," says Julián.
"In fact, we continue to work on our trial farms to be able to have the widest range of resistant tomato varieties," he says.
"Furthermore, we are reaching the market at a time of high demand and this is being reflected in the prices. Average prices are currently very good and they remain stable, and not only for tomatoes. All fruit and vegetable products from Almeria, with the exception of eggplant, are fetching very good prices."
"We have a very good feeling about this season," says Julián.
For more information:
Julián Rodríguez
[email protected]