Spanish import figures shared by FEPEX (based on data from the Customs and Excise Department) reveal that June was the third consecutive month with an increase in pumpkin purchases. In April, there was a 37% increase in imports; in May, the peak was reached, with an increase of 55.3% over the same month last year, and in June, prior to the start of the harvest in the Valencia area, this upward trend continued, with a 38% year-on-year increase.
"For us, at a national level, the demand for Butternut squash has shot up by almost 100%," says Jose Caballer, of Hortalizas Caballer. "Because of the drought in inland areas of Spain, such as Castile-La Mancha, where pumpkin is planted as a complement to the watermelon and melon campaigns, the harvest has been reduced by 30% or more, and these weeks we have even been called from La Mancha to buy in Valencia. Here we still have enough water, and although, in general, it seems that the production has increased, with the current market trends, we expect this year's stock to be liquidated sooner than expected."
Prices, in fact, reflect this situation of the demand at the beginning of the campaign in Valencia, the country's largest pumpkin producing region by far. "As of today, they have increased by more than 20% compared to the same time last year."
"When it comes to exports, this upward trend in the demand has also been noticeable for almost a year now," says José. "Since the start of the harvest in Valencia in 2022, we have been receiving calls from large companies interested in exporting, especially from Eastern countries, such as Saudi Arabia."
"At first, we thought that this demand could be due to the World Cup, but after that ended, the trend has continued up to the present day. In addition to the drought in other production areas, it should be recalled that, in Spain, the quality-price ratio for this product is usually very good," he says.
Hortalizas Caballer is a family business managed by José and his father which is specialized in the production of Butternut squash pumpkins. "We produce and market around half a million kilos of pumpkins; few small companies handle such a volume in this area," says José. "We work with classic pumpkins, with the orange-skinned Butternut Squash, and with the cream-skinned one, which is the most common in supermarkets, mostly the Pluto and Ariel varieties. The pumpkins weighting between 800 g and 2 kg are mostly going to supermarkets, while the processing industry receives the larger sizes."
"Our campaign kicks off between July and August, when we start with the harvest, and normally lasts until March or April; however, this year, despite having the same production, we are afraid we won't even make it to next February."
