This is a campaign that already started in an atypical way, since prospects had pointed to a 21% increase of the production in Spain, but it all ended "in a chaotic way," states Antonio Sinisterra, owner of Huerto Sinisterra. "We have been able to save a third of the clementines, but we know that other growers have not been so lucky," he explains. Also, to the economic loss of not being able to sell 100% of the fruit we must add the additional cost of cleaning the trees, since no fruits should be left on them ahead of the new season.
Furthermore, given the product shortage, the harvest of the remaining varieties has been advanced by some months in order to be able to comply with the contracts signed with traders. This explains why Ortanique mandarins, whose harvest normally takes place in March, are now on supermarket shelves.
Also, the importation of fruit from South Africa this year has allowed supermarkets to obtain stocks from this source, "putting the domestic product at a disadvantage," stressed Sinisterra.
The Valencian company is working with the Integrated Production Certificate, aiming in the near future for fully organic cultivation. "For now, we need to continue using chemicals to fight spiders and the California red scale."
