Gusts of 80-140km/h were felt over two days early last week in Almeria, Murcia, Valencia and Lerida causing extensive although localised damage.
“The winds broke plastic tunnels causing losses to just about every crop in Almeria; capsicum, cucumber, tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, everything,” said Quique Oliver of exporter Agriveg.
Citrus trees and stone fruit trees were also affected causing fruit to fall from trees in the case of citrus and damaging fruitlets of early stonefruit varieties.
“In some cases trees have come down, but the damage is localised,” explained Oliver. “Where a grower in one area may have lost most of a crop, his neighbour may have lost nothing.” At this stage Oliver reports that overall exports to the UK are not being affected because of the localised nature of the damage.
