The recent haulage strike, which paralysed much of Spain’s fresh produce sector for five days last week, has had a 'serious effect' on this year’s melon deal, according to grower association Asaja Murcia.
Despite the fact that the protest is now over, Asaja Murcia warned this week that Murcia's melon campaign had been seriously prejudiced by the hauliers' action.
Asaja Murcia’s secretary general, Alfonso Gálvez Caravaca, said that the melon harvest stopped during the strike and claimed this had damaged the melon campaigns of a number of Murcian producers.
Despite the setbacks, Mr Gálvez Caravaca said the situation was now returning to normal and added that the quality of this year's melon harvest was 'magnificent and extraordinary'.
However, he added that it was vital 'now more than ever' that Murcian producers worked to recover their market share with customers who had been deprived of the region's produce during the last week. To achieve this, Mr Gálvez Caravaca urged the Murcian fresh produce sector to put in place a summer fruit campaign that was 'optimistic and positive'.
