Last year, the Association of Cooperatives of Extremadura (Acopaex) exported to the United States 15 percent more than in the previous year; a trend that is expected to continue in 2016.
The president of Acopaex, Domingo Fernandez, said that this increase was due to the continuing depreciation of the Euro against the dollar, which made it easier for the products from Extremadura to reach the US.
The current situation of the dollar makes European goods cheaper for Americans; a situation that Extremadura has used to sell more tomatoes, wine, oil and stonefruit, mainly.
The quality of the regional product has done the rest, said Domingo Fernandez, as it is very recognized and demanded by the US market.
"The products of the autonomous region of Extremadura have a deserved reputation in world markets, which is always a good credential," said the head of the Association of Cooperatives of Extremadura.
Unlike Iberia, the importing countries don't place as many obstacles to agricultural products, such as tomatoes, wine, oil or fruit, which facilitates transactions. However, that does not mean there aren't many health checks.
The rise in the price of the dollar has helped to increase European sales in the US and in other countries, such as China, the nations of the Middle East, and South America, among others.
The current situation of the dollar is somewhat more favorable than in early 2015, so forecasts are exports to the United States will continue to increase in 2016, if production behaves at acceptable levels.
In this sense, Fernandez recognized producers from Extremadura were a little concerned because of the high unusual temperatures in winter, as the plants were not getting the necessary cold hours in their early stages.
The sector expects it will be cold from now until late February, he said, but it doesn't look like things will change.
Domingo Fernandez said production could be lower this year if there was no cold, but that it still was too early to assert any conclusion.
