The 28th of November, the Council of Agriculture of Spain in China announced the conclusion and release of the documents of the citrus and kaki campaign. Therefore, exports to China will begin as soon when the campaign has been enabled through the application computer Cexveg to allow export requests can be made.

“It is definitely a great thing that the first shipment of the season are already being made but there could be problems, given that a lot of Kaki plots have been impacted by wind. It would be ideal for the fruits to be shipped to China by the end of November” states Pascual Prouts, head of the Spanish Kaki Association.

The kaki season has reached its halfway mark across Spain and is in its third quarter with harvest coming to a higher level than normal, and is expected to be finished by the final day of December. While the start of the season was productive agronomically and commercially, things changed dramatically towards the end of November, when the first snowstorms affected the fields in the major areas of production.

“The effects of the blizzards throughout Spain is a major factor in the kaki-related campaign. It wasn’t just that the fruit fell off in the fall to floor, but a lot of it that was left on the trees was harmed through branches caused by powerful winds,” said Pascual Prats.

“This resulted in significant reductions in the amount of first-class fruit, an growth in the number of trash and a market getting crowded with second-class fruit which has caused prices to fall lower than the levels of profitability. The costs of first class fruits are reasonable, however they don’t compensate for the reduction of production and the escalating increase in costs for harvesting following the snowstorm,” said Pascual Prats.

“Moreover the process of ripening increased and, due to the number of leaves that have fallen and the trees lacking the power to let the fruit to continue growing in size,” he says. “With the earlier ripening of fruit, not so much fruit is stored in the chambers and, as such, at present this season is reduced by two weeks.”

“Despite the challenges this campaign has will face, there are a few companies that have experience with long-distance shipping that could be able to make the first exports over the next few weeks,” said the president of Kaki Association. Kaki Association.

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Pascual Prats

ASOCIACION ESPANOLA DE KAKI

Calle Hernan Cortes, 4, 1.a,

46004 Valencia, Spain

T: (+34) 902 920 515

info@aekaki.es

www.aekaki.es