Harsh weather conditions in south-eastern Spain have been affecting production of winter vegetable and salad lines.

A hailstorm on November 25 in western Almería caused damage to an estimated 350 hectares of protected salad and vegetable crops, such as tomatoes and peppers. The high winds, hail, and in some areas subsequent snowfall, damaged not only plastic tunnel structures, but also the crops growing underneath.

Regional authorities and grower groups have been moving swiftly to assess the damage in key growing areas such as Vícar, Roquetas del Mar and El Ejido. The agriculture office of the regional executive in Andalusia has said it will give the “necessary support”. A spokesman said it was the intention of the department to take the opportunity to help growers modernise their structures where possible.

And in Murcia, to the east of Almería, persistent cold temperatures are hindering growth of several export crops, including broccoli and tomatoes.

Julien Taratay of Agriveg said: “It is not just the hail that has fallen in Almería; we have had very cold conditions throughout Murcia and Almería for about 10 days. At one stage it fell to -1°C at night, but it has been regularly hitting 1°C to 3°C at night, with maximums of just 11°C during the day. Seasonal averages are for temperatures of 5°C to 6°C at night and around 15°C during the day. Growers are still harvesting, but in lower volumes.”

The forecast is not expected to change until the end of next week.

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