The growing list of protocols has increased the workload for Alconeras but according to Ashby the significance in getting things right is important to the organisation’s future success. “This year has seen the introduction of EurepGAP to all of our growers,” he says. “This is significant as for some customers in the UK, the ability to trade does not exist without obtaining this certification. There has been a large amount of work required to reach the standard and this has been achieved in Morocco, as well as Spain and Portugal.”
To make sure the demands have been met, the company has recruited new staff. Ashby explains: “We now have a permanent member of staff resident in Spain to take care of the protocols, including the next phase of EurepGAP and also retailer initiatives such as Tesco’s Nature’s Choice and M&S’s Field to Fork programme.”
Ashby says there have also been huge strides forward with regards to the variety mix. “Such efforts have meant larger volumes of better eating varieties reaching the consumer. As a result of this, Alconeras has had a record year with regards to export volumes to the UK.”
Grower returns, though, have been similar this year to last. Ashby says: “When you take into account the exchange rate is around three per cent higher than last year, I believe in real terms it is a negative position on prices. However, this may be softened by the fact that with English fruit being a week to 10 days behind 2003, most growers have been able to trade for a little longer giving a slightly better yield advantage.”
Production methods are under constant review at Alconeras and there is a range of initiatives currently being explored. “For strawberries we have been growing using raised bed techniques, low and high tunnels, open-mouthed high tunnel and tabletop,” says Ashby. “With raspberries we have working towards a higher level of Driscoll varieties which are bare roots rather than canes, there are significant cost advantages in planting bare roots.”
Production has altered dramatically over the last 12 months with a range of varieties giving different yield curves. Ashby says: “The combining effect has meant a smoothing of the peak into a more manageable marketing exercise, and the weather has been a great help. We also managed to crack the 6,000 tonnes barrier this year, which we feel is a significant milestone, one that we wouldn’t have been able to achieve without the continued efforts of our growers.”
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