FREEZING conditions and heavy rainfall are taking their toll on Spanish salad and vegetable production.

According to the federation of agricultural co-operatives, Fecoam, in the south-eastern Spanish region of Murcia, freezing temperatures at night in the last week of 2001 and continuing heavy rains in the new year are causing damage to field crops.

Federation president Manuel Soler reports costs to growers of the latest round of inclement weather of some e18million. 'The crops which have been hardest hit are iceberg, artichokes, cauliflower and broccoli,' Soler told the Journal. 'Broccoli has not been frozen as such, but the cold temperatures have delayed maturity so we are seeing reduced volumes coming through.' Temperatures fell to as low as -5°C and -6°C in the last week of December and the new year has started with heavy rainfall.

'The rains are continual and we are seeing problems with disease such as botrytis,' said Soler.

'This means that the small quantities which are ready for harvesting are often unsaleable because of the disease.

'On top of that, the fields are often inaccessible because of heavy mud making it hard to carry out harvesting.' The federation reports that produce is being exported, but not in the volumes usual at this time of year.

Meanwhile, although frosts also struck further north in the Valencia region, citrus producers association Ava-Asaja reports that the Mediterranean seaboard where most citrus plantations are located has been unaffected with areas further inland suffering the lowest temperatures. l

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