Agroaldea
Russian veto effects continue and are particularly affecting tomato, passing through a complicated situation.
In the last three years have been lost in Almería a 3.000 hectares of tomato, due to the neglect of farmers by low prices. this province, with some 10.000 ha and a harvest of nearly one million tonnes, It is the largest producer of fresh tomatoes in Spain, concentrating almost a quarter of national production.
Specialties such as tomato Pera, Or Cherry Cocktail, which they were mainly to the Russian market, the need to absorb the European market, who is not willing to pay for these varieties added value that if they paid the Russians.
By Pera type variety you are currently paying the farmer a 30 cents per kilo, when production costs are about 35 cents. And those 30 cents is the highest price that has come to pay for the entire campaign, Francisco Vargas complaint, Asaja president Almería.
Cherry goes through the same situation. With production costs around 1-1,10 euros/kilo, farmers perceive a 80 half cents. “The only exception is the vine tomato, by now you pay 80 cents / kilo when costs are on 40 cents. Although it should be noted that these prices have started paying ago 15 days after stockings down”, Vargas explained.
Russian veto
The effect of the Russian veto It affects Spanish tomato producers twice. Political problems between Russia and Turkey closed the borders also supplied the Turkish tomato, along with the Spanish, markets. this tomato, of poorer quality than the Spanish, He has begun to enter the EU cheapening prices.
Against the Spanish, higher quality and must pass stricter controls, we find a massive influx of tomato, both Morocco and Turkey, mainly, that do not meet the same food safety controls and traceability.
In return for Turkey to control the Syrian border by the problem of refugees, you buy Turkish tomato preferentially lower quality and has problems of residues of plant protection here they are prohibited, concern has Asaja president Almería.
This situation of low prices is used by some operators of distribution What, sure to stock, pushing prices downward. “Mainly Aldi and Lidl have become strong and producers who refuse to sell at those prices punish them without buying them for weeks”, said Francisco Vargas.
While, farmers look with concern your bottom line because, finishing the season, They have barely recovered 30.000 of euros 55.000 it costs to produce one hectare.