The Spanish region of Murcia has lost more than 300,000 tonnes of fresh produce, principally winter vegetables, as a result of frosts that struck the area earlier this month.
In a statement, Murcia’s ministry of agriculture and water said that an estimated 309,000 of production had been adversely affected by low temperatures that were recorded in the region on 10 January.
According to an assessment carried out by the ministry, the provinces of Guadalentín and Cartagena were the most affected, with winter vegetables, such as broad beans, artichokes and to a lesser extent tomatoes and lettuce, said to have suffered damage.
Fresh produce association Asaja Murcia said it estimated that up to 60 per cent of winter vegetables produced in the region had been affected by the frosts, with as much as 100 per cent of the artichoke crop having been lost in some areas.
The official estimate said that some 5,900ha of artichokes had been damaged by the low temperatures, adding that eventual losses could reach as high as €9m.
In terms of tomatoes, the ministry said that around 779ha, equivalent to €9m, had been affected, while covered production was also being threatened by the increased appearance of plant diseases, such as botrytis.
A further 2,300ha of lettuce was also said to have been hit by the frosts, with damage to exterior leaves likely to adversely affect the crop’s commercial value.
