Packhouses are operating at full capacity, but logistical challenges remain CGC says
Valencia’s citrus industry has shown remarkable resilience in the wake of heavy rains and tragic flooding that affected large parts of the province of Valencia last week.
According to the Citrus Management Committee (CGC), harvesting and packing have now resumed and are proceeding in a relatively normal state, despite the difficulties.
The committee said the damage – while severe – is limited to two districts, La Ribera Alta, La Ribera Baja. “In addition to the enormous losses suffered by the agricultural sector as a whole, the citrus season has been slowed down by the inability to harvest and the difficulties in accessing the fields and transporting the fruit from storage to destination following the floods,” said CGC president Inmaculada Sanfeliu, adding that all packhouses in Valencia are operating at full capacity, ensuring the supply of mandarins and oranges to all European retailers.
The main damage has been to agricultural infrastructure, land access, and facilities and equipment (such as ponds, pipes, wells, walls, and fences). The greatest damage to citrus groves has affected the aforementioned districts, and the municipality of Pedralba.
Other production areas in Valencia sustained minor damage, while in the rest of the province of Valencia and in most of Castellón, Alicante, and the citrus-growing areas of Andalusia and Murcia, the rainfall has even been beneficial, allowing many citrus varieties to increase in size and helping to mitigate the effects of two years of severe drought.
“Most of the affected fields are still covered in mud, but once we gain access, it is certain that a good proportion of the fruit will be harvested, either for fresh sale or for juice processing,” Sanfeliu continued, adding that “the region’s packing plants have the technology and know-how to ensure a quality supply to the EU”.
However, the province’s growers and exporters face a challenging logistical situation. Damage to key infrastructure, such as the Valencia motorway bypass, was severe and sections of several major motorways are still closed. Given the congestion on the roads, the CGC has asked the authorities to create a priority corridor for perishable goods such as citrus.
