ia is going through one of the worst droughts on record and has needed more irrigation than usual, onion growers confirm the good quality of this year's harvest, as well as the ease in the harvesting duties."This year's produce has an excellent quality," says César Ruescas, business manager of the Valencian company Ruescas Export. Furthermore, "The lack of rainfall during the harvest season has given us the chance to work with the crop with more ease," he adds.
Now it is time for the Medio Grano onion harvest, which has started with good sales in the domestic and export markets. According to Ruescas, "This year we started with strong Medio Grano onion sales, with high demand from countries that are not regular clients for Spain due to delay in their harvests; this included Lithuania, Czech Republic and other Balkan countries."
Meanwhile, "We are also noticing a growing preference for the consumption of Spanish onions in Europe as opposed to the Dutch and French varieties, mainly due to their sweeter taste, texture and larger calibres," he assures.
Based in Picassent, Valencia, Ruescas Export SL is already a third generation company, as it was founded by Expósito Ruescas in the 1940's, when they were devoted to the regional onion market. In the second generation, the firm's commercial activities expanded throughout the national territory and it started exporting to Europe.
Victor and Cesar Ruescas are the current third generation, running the company with a more international focus and exporting to international markets while importing onions from Peru, Chile and Mexico when in the off-season, ensuring the supply of onions throughout the year with its main brand PEPE Ruescas.
Ruescas Export owns about 250 hectares of plantations in Valencia and Castile-La Mancha, and it also supplies onions from associated producers. It is specialised in yellow onions or Grano, which are mainly shipped to German and Spanish supermarkets, as well as sweet onions, which are mainly imported from South America. Additionally, white, red and peeled onions are also part of the range.
At the moment, Medio Grano onions are the earliest of the Grano family, and are marketed at a domestic and European level, as they are more sensitive to long distance shipments. However, as of August, the company has the ability to supply faraway markets with Grano de Oro onions, which have a very long shelf life," he affirms.
Ruescas Export was the first onion company to obtain the QS certificate and nowadays also has the Global GAP and ISO certifications. It will soon also receive the IFS accreditation, which will enable it to continue diversifying into new markets.
