Almeria’s courgette growers look to be facing a difficult end to the 2010/11 campaign as a result of an excess of production in the southern Spanish province and growing competition from Morocco.
According to reports from Spain, the average price of courgettes in Almeria has fallen by almost 75 per cent during the past month, dropping from over €1 per kilo to around €0.25c to €0.30c over recent days.
Hotter than average temperatures for February have been blamed for encouraging the rapid development of this year’s crop which, combined with many growers choosing to focus on courgettes rather than more expensive crops, has led to far greater volumes, causing prices to plunge.
Almerian producers have also cited an increase in courgette production and exports from Morocco, which is currently in mid-season, for contributing greatly to the fall in prices for the product.
Francisco Vargas, president of Spanish fresh produce association Asaja-Almeria, told regional daily Ideal that the sector also faced limited demand in its traditional export markets, France and Italy, which was stable, but not growing.
