The drastic measures taken by Spanish strawberry producers and reported in last week’s FPJ have succeeded in lifting prices for the fruit.
Growers in the south-western region of Huelva have pulled up a quarter of their plants since Holy Week and prices have risen by 30-40 per cent as a result, they report.
“The measures have had positive results, have allowed an increase in prices and generated a certain degree of satisfaction in the sector,” said José Manuel Romero, president of growers’ association Freshuelva.
The action taken by growers all m embers of grower groups such as Coag, Freshuelva and Upa, saw 1,750ha taken out of production and 96 million plants pulled out. Total area under strawberries in Huelva is 7,000ha on which some 300,000t of fruit it grown.
Meanwhile, a national congressional agriculture committee in Spain is calling on government to introduce measures to limit the effects of pricing crises in the fruit and vegetable sector in the country.
Advocates of the action on the committee - which agreed the proposal unanimously - cited French experience in setting maximum retail prices if prices to producers fall to pre-set levels or in adopting promotions to boost sales.
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