According to the weather forecast, rains will continue in the Spanish province of Huelva after a brief respite during the weekend, following two long weeks of continuous rainfall that have put many strawberry producers in a dire situation. The supply has, in fact, decreased considerably these days.
"The truth is that the sector is concerned about the current situation, marked by the excess rainfall, although thanks to the fact that a few years ago we opted for hydroponic cultivation, we are not as concerned as other growers," says M.ª Ángeles García Sousa, technical manager at Frutas Esther. The strawberry greenhouses on her Cartaya farm have a total of around 100 hectares devoted to berry crops.
"We are, in fact, the largest producers of Florida Pearl strawberries in Spain. This season, we have around 700,000 plants, whose production is sold to Scandinavian countries and other destinations in the northernmost latitudes of Europe," she says.
"The white strawberry of the Florida Pearl variety, from Emco Cal, attracts a lot of attention in Nordic countries because of its color and exceptional flavor, which pleases anyone who tries it," says M.ª Ángeles, "and the price it fetches is also very interesting."
"That's why we are very happy about having the right infrastructure on our farms to produce quality strawberries under any weather conditions. In hydroponic cultivation, unlike in soil cultivation, there is optimum drainage of the substrate, which helps keep humidity under control, thereby minimizing fungal attacks and diseases, such as Botrytis. Also, at more challenging periods, like the current one, it allows treatments to be applied and for them to be effective," she says.
"Another great advantage for us is that, in the context of labor shortages in the fields, hydroponics has allowed Frutas Esther to avoid major problems in finding pickers, as they can work in a much more comfortable position, which translates into better working conditions," says Mª Ángeles.
"We currently grow 95% of our strawberry crops in hydroponics, and in May, we will have the few still active plantations in soil removed and set up new structures on the same area, so that 100% of our strawberry production will be grown hydroponically by the 2025/26 season, including the coveted Florida Pearl white strawberry," says the technical manager.
For more information:
Frutas Esther
Ctra. de la Estación Km. 1.9
30550 Abarán, Murcia. Spain
info@frutasesther.es
https://www.frutasesther.es/