Spania Fresh Canarias SL was formed last season when Spania Fresh Produce joined forces with Camilo Alvarez, a large grower in Gran Canaria.
It has been a busy 12 months forthe company, which took over the nursery and packhouse of a large independent cucumber grower. “During the December-May period, the Canaries tend to come into their own as there’s little competition,” says Morna Blair-Cornwell, president of Spania Fresh Canarias SL. “Spain tends to reduce its volumes during the winter months.”
Blair-Cornwell anticipates a strong cucumber campaign despite last season’s challenges. “We saw healthy prices and quality was excellent, although prices did fall to unexpectedly low levels during March and April, which didn’t help overseas and UK growers,” she says. “This year we will have 16 per cent more cucumbers over an extended season in order to cover any shortfalls of early English product.”
Having made a mark in cucumber production, Spania Fresh Canarias has recently taken on more than 40 hectares of tomato production and an established packhouse in Gran Canaria. Spania Fresh Canarias handles the tomato varieties Dorothy and Boludo, and Imanol cucumbers. These are exported under the brand Canary Fresh.
Taking control over production and export volumes is key, and being in this position provides Spania Fresh Canarias with a wealth of benefits, says Blair-Cornwell. “Similarly to what we’ve achieved in England, we strongly believe in the future of our own production with partners,” she says. “It is much more hands on business and hopefully gives us an edge over our competitors.”
Although Blair-Cornwell says the recent acquisitions have been heavy investments and will continue to be so, she is confident it is the way forward and will prove beneficial in the long run.
“We now have greater control over the technical and quality aspects of our operations. It is a good situation, because it compliments our group and also helps us become technically stronger and in turn more understanding to growing problems,” she adds.
There is no doubt that last season was difficult for the Canary Islands, with some products performing better than others.Following tropical storm Delta, volumes were inevitably lower than the previous season but quality was variable. “You often could not see the problems when picking and packing but they appeared later when fruit had matured,” Blair-Cornwell says. “I think in general we all handled the situation well and still gave our customers the right product.”
She says the tomato business has changed considerably and some smaller growers have left the sector. The forthcomingseason will be another testing time but she predicts active exporters will supply good volumes.
“It’s crucial that we have a reasonably good one in terms of quality, supply and price,” Blair-Cornwell says.“I wouldeven say that it is a critical one for the survival of many tomato exporters. Many growersendured a very poor season last winter in terms of returns achieved andhave been reluctant to plant. In fact,2005/06 was the worst one in more than 20 years.”
While growers are tryingto be optimistic about the2006/07 season, many have diversified into other crops such as papaya and melons in the last year. “Peppers and aubergines are new lines we will be introducing from the Canaries this winter, albeit in smaller volumes but we are seeking to diversify into other lines, rather than rely on one or two products,” Blair-Cornwell explains.
Pepper varieties such as California Wonderare being planted in new glass structures on a smaller scale, as are aubergines. These two lines were grown in more substantial volumes years ago producing good quality vegetables for export. However,due to virus problemsover the seasons,crops have been severely curtailed. “Maybe this will change in the future,”Blair-Cornwellsays.
Nevertheless, Spania Fresh Canarias is optimistic about future opportunities. “The Canary Islands is an important player in the winter, with a more stable climate than Spain during the winter months,” Blair Cornwell claims. “We believe that, with the right product and the right customer, there will always be good opportunities for the Canaries.”
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