The Strawberry and its farming industry in Huelva ()

COMMUNITY season began earlier than expected. By Where does the Huelva The strawberry early as the first fortnight of last strawberry come from? and its farming December 2017 the first production of this fruit was already available with a The strawberry was not born in the industry in Huelva greater supply than in previous seasons, Huelva countryside; its microclimate but as a result of the excess in supply, (Spain) caused these small red fruits to travel from the initial prices were lower than those California, in Los Angeles, to adapt to the The natural conditions of the province of obtained in the two previous years. western Andalusian terrain. It was the Huelva in the farming of strawberries, Sevillian businessman Antonio Medina, recognized by world specialists, explain The climate and its who brought the first strawberry plants to to a large extent the extraordinary consequences Huelva in 1960 and is considered as the boom of the strawberry sector in this true precursor of their cultivation in Spain. province. Especially in the southern area Everyone knows the influence that of Huelva, there are unique soil and climatic conditions exert on the climate conditions, as well as the development of crops and in the case of Since those modest beginnings, the availability of good quality water, which strawberries and other red fruits it arrival of spring today is celebrated by have resulted in a great expansion of couldn’t be otherwise. The existence of an approximate 17,000 acres dressed in this crop. This process has been an extremely warm autumn 2017 causes white that hide millions of coloured 4 accompanied by a high level of the Huelva strawberry sector to replace specks of a delicious sweet tasting fruit . technology, distribution structures and around 10% of strawberry plants, which The strawberry season in the South of commercial dynamism, which have results in an increase in planting costs2. Spain goes from the end of January to placed the strawberry as the province's the end of May, although the main leading crop. According to the latest report on the period is from March 15 to April 15. fruit made by the Price Observatory of Today, close to 150,000 tons of the Regional Government of , There was a time when they were known strawberry are produced anually in the impact of these temperatures has as “fresones” [large strawberries], a Huelva1, which represents more than reached replacement figures of up to name that had no other purpose than to 65% of the national production of this 25% of what was planted in some differentiate the strawberries of Huelva fruit, with a proven quality and, above production areas of Huelva3. from those of , which were all, during seasons of the year when smaller. One way or another and there is no competition both in the regardless of their name, the province is domestic market and in the rest of known as well for its ham, prawns, and Europe. The current 2018 strawberry this fruit, which is a natural source of

1 vitamin C and antioxidants, that grows It is worth mentioning that nine out of from leafy creeping plants belonging to ten Euros received by the Spanish Europe is the leading the genus “Fragaria,” for its intense trade balance corresponding to the fragrance. strawberry producer in the sale of red fruits or berries in 6 world , with 1,489,262 tons international markets come from (47.7% of world production), Huelva. For this reason, the work of The world production of followed by North and Central strawberries producers must be strawberry farming has America with 919,479 tons recognized for their commitment to multiplied by 4 over the last (29.4%) (29.4%). the excellence demanded by consumers. 40 years, increasing from 754,516 tons in the year 1961 According to the Association of 5 to 3,175,464 tons in 2001 . The world harvested area of Producers and Exporters of the strawberry production was 228,555 Strawberry of Huelva, Freshuelva, the hectares in the year 2001, of which outlook among producers for the 72.5% belong to Europe and only 12.6% 2017-2018 campaign, is expecting the Europe is the area that has experienced to North and Central America. stabilization of the area of strawberries the largest expansion of its production at around 5,400 hectares8, after years of in the world. This great development is Current strawberry continued decline in favour of other red due in part to the increase in demand production fruits such as blueberries and raspberries. since strawberries are perceived as fruits with a high content of vitamin C, almost At the beginning of the year 2018, the equivalent to that of citrus fruits and initial price of first-class strawberries has Currently, the national with great industrial potential. decreased to 1.87 Euros per kilo7. This means 7.4% less than the prices obtained strawberries Primoris, Rábida in the first week of 2017. In terms of and Rociera represent 30% prices, the dry weather of the last days of of the production. The 2017 favoured their recovery, thus president of Interfresa states obtaining levels similar to those of the that the objective is to previous strawberry campaign. Specifically, increase said percentage to the price was 3.2 euros on average per 50% in 10 years. kilo at Christmas season.

2 Plastic in the spotlight Currently, 6,500 ha of within the crop United Kingdom Germany strawberries, 2,400 ha of raspberries, 3,400 ha of For the farming of strawberries, it is necessary to cranberries and more than 200 France create a stable growing Italy ha of blackberries are 10 environment that adapts to planted . the requirements of this crop so that the fruit reaches a better result and the highest possible quality of the harvest. 83% of Spanish strawberries The use of specific come from Huelva. The rest agri-plastics is necessary for of the production comes from 11 that purpose and the Aranjuez and Cantabria . companies of the Armando Álvarez Group are one of the The industry of strawberries main references in this field. in the country is formed by 400 companies. Armando Álvarez Group was founded in 1964 and is the Red fruits or berries generate largest Spanish transformer of 90,000 jobs. polyethene plastic film. It The figures of strawberries Italy are next as favoured destinations. comprises a series of high-quality companies that Out of the total Spanish strawberry The strawberry area has exhibited a complement each other with harvest, 90% is exported. Sales abroad tendency towards recovery over the last an extruded volume of about have increased 15% over the last five two seasons, while raspberries and 300,000 tons and a turnover of years, standing at around 290,000 tons. blueberries have significantly grown about 700 million euros12. The main destinations for Spanish over the last seven seasons. strawberries are Germany (30%) and Starting in 1977, the Group France (20%)9. During the last three expanded its original business years, the quota has grown to reach beyond the region of 90,000 tons. The United Kingdom and Cantabria with the purchase of

3 the companies Reyde SA and Plastic films are waterproof, so the protected cultivation system is always Reyenvas SA. The company’s water that evaporates from the ground greater than what is obtained in open current position as a leader in condenses on the inside of the plastic air. The precocity, as well as the the sector was achieved step by and by gravity it is restored back to the production obtained per hectare, step with the strategy of buying ground, preserving its moisture. depends on the shape and dimensions companies to complement the of the structure as well as the type of main lines of products of the The mulching favours the heating of plastic material used for the cover. Group. The takeover of the the soil and achieves an advance of companies accelerated over the the flowering and ripening, aside from A microclimate is created inside the last two decades with the keeping the fruit away from the tunnel with a combination of mulch incorporation of Silvalac SA, ground. In the strawberry area of films and tunnel covers. The thermal Industrias Gráficas Castells SA, Huelva, the most highly used plastic equilibrium, and therefore the Plásticos Vanguardia SA, Rafia type is 120-gauge black polyethene. temperature obtained in the interior, Industrial SA, Solplast SA, The black colour of the plastic prevents depends on the difference between the Sotrafa SA and Macresac SA. the development of weeds. heat taken during the day by the greenhouse effect, which is greater in Facilities for crop proportion to the volume of air stored. Mulching with plastic protection: Greenhouses The heat losses are due to the conduction and Spanish-tunnels of the materials and to the irradiation, Plastic mulching stands out among the being proportional to the ratio of the materials that are used today for the outer surface per unit of surface covered, The farming of strawberries in a cultivation of strawberries, which exerts and inversely proportional to the volume protected environment achieves a remarkable influence on the of the tunnel. maturation in an earlier time frame, this microclimate in which plants grow: aspect being much more beneficial than the case of other fruit species because a humidity significant price increase is achieved, A wider hoop/arch favours temperature which compensates the cost of the the best use of the tunnel structures. greenhouse effect, whereby, gaseous exchange between certain limits, the soil structure The tunnel provides protection from ripeness of the fruit takes place unfavourable weather conditions for sooner as the tunnel enlarges. four months. The yield per hectare in a

4 Micro-tunnels High-tunnels

These are small tunnels, with a height of These are tunnels of large dimensions, 50-80 centimetres and a width from where it is possible to perform all the the base of 60-90 centimetres. Their farming work inside. The shapes and structure is constructed on a wire frame dimensions of the arches are diverse, of around 7 millimetres of diameter, but the tendency is to follow the placed at two meters or more from each elliptical shape, to facilitate the run-off other, that supports the plastic film that of rainwater and offer sufficient wind will be extended over them. In the resistance. strawberry area of Huelva, the plastic that is most commonly used in greenhouses is The dimensions of the tunnels are the 300-gauge EVA copolymer for a high different according to the areas, but thermal effect. generally, the width at the base varies from 4 to 6 meters. The height in the These tunnels of smaller dimensions centre of the tunnel varies between two generally have a lower yield than the to three meters and the length of the typical Spanish tunnel or High-tunnels tunnel does not exceed 60-100 meters since, apart from having a lower to allow good ventilation. For the greenhouse effect in relation to the coverage of the Spanish tunnels in the large tunnels, there is a remarkable drop strawberry area of Huelva, the types of in the temperature in the crop area plastic that are usually used are the closer to the sides of the tunnel. This 600-gauge transparent thermal temperature differential inside the polyethene and the 600-gauge tunnel is not so appreciable in the transparent EVA copolymer. central part of the crop where loss in productivity is not significant. Despite their lower performance, these small-tunnels continue to be used, due to their low cost, the ease of construction of the plastic framework and ropes or threads, fast installation, and the low resistance they offer to the wind.

5 Onubafruit is the largest producer of Keep up the latest 14 New varieties news! However, the manager of the berries in Europe , with a production of: second-tier cooperative of he process of obtaining a variety begins During the last campaign, 5,800 Huelva, Onubafruit, Francisco 30 million kilos of strawberries with the crossing of two varieties with hectares of strawberries were planted Sanchez, predicts "a change 10 million kilos of raspberries desirable characteristics, and that union is in the , 8% less of trend a few years from called an individual. The firm Fresas than the sowing of the previous now 12 million kilos of cranberries Nuevos Materiales (FNM), carries out 13 ," assuring that season . For the third consecutive year, will give us 80 to 90 crossings every year, resulting strawberries " 500,000 kilos of blackberries 16 the area of strawberries planted in the satisfaction in the future with in 8,000 to 10,000 new individuals . province fell again in favour of the Then they are selected according to increasing prices", while "it Currently, 73% of strawberries planted cultivation of other berries such as precocity, tolerance to diseases, firmness, will be impossible to maintain in , , raspberries and blackberries, but mainly colour, and sugar level. the profitability of the and other municipalities in the cranberries, which experienced the cranberry the province of Huelva, pay licenses to highest growth (30% more) since their " because " Each year 180 families are evaluated, American universities according to the market price is higher. market will not be able to latest report prepared by Servifapa, a out of which only 25 families pass to the undertake the current planting The varieties obtained are study service attached to the Regional second year. rate". Therefore, he states examined under different production Government of Andalusia. Thus, for that "abandoning strawberry situations and on an even larger scale in every 1,000 plants, the nurserymen pay farming is a mistake fields of shareholder farmers. Currently, ", since out 20 euros in royalties15. "the market is capable to the national strawberries of Primoris, admit more than 5,800 Rábida and Rociera represent 30% of the hectares of strawberry".

6 production. The president of Interfresa saving water and optimizing its use. The promotion and use of the new varieties the chemical materials that were used states that the objective is to increase said soil of Huelva requires fertigation since it of strawberries in the plantations. All for disinfection like methyl bromide and percentage to 50% in 10 years17. is poor and needs the stimulation of this has meant that the Spanish to introduce other techniques such as nutrients, but it is important to measure consumer has returned to consider the the biological control: Introducing the conductivity and the pH. every day. strawberry of Huelva as a reference in controlled insect predators that Challenges for the future On the other hand, the cranberry is very the market. eliminate bug infestations such as the

A technical conference was held demanding in terms of fertilizers and red spider that attacks the strawberry. recently, where a thorough analysis of irrigation, although there are not as These measures are in addition to the the current water situation in the many references available as there are in There is no perfect strawberry, research and production promoted by relation to the strawberry. Freshuelva from new less insipid province of Huelva was made, stating however, the one that varieties, such as the candonga that has that there is sufficient guarantee of this convinces and draws the Boosting the national market for more sugar but is less productive, or the substance, but the region requires the attention of consumers is urgent execution of large hydraulic blackberries, raspberries and rociera, a native strawberry from Huelva attractive to the eye and works already planned by the Local cranberries is one of the great that is smaller and tasteful. . Government. challenges. tasteful, that is red and sweet Candonga: has more sugar but According to forecasts, the Only 5% of the production is less productive. In the imperfection of the fruit is the demand for irrigation water, of these berries in Huelva seal of quality, since if all strawberries Rociera: native strawberry in addition to doubling by remains in the domestic 2021 will increase to 387.5 were equal, they would seem unreal. from Huelva that is market19. Today, many farmers are no strangers to smaller and tasteful. cubic hectometres in 2033. derogatory comments about the current taste of the fruit around food markets The national consumption of and large areas, comments that long for Today, agriculture accounts for 70% of strawberries represents between 18 the delicious fruit of a few decades ago. consumption, occupying an area of and 20% of the production. And this almost 40,000 hectares18. percentage is significant because just a For this reason, some crop farms such as few years ago, almost 90% was destined Freshuelva have joined the Green In terms of advances in the management for export20. This registered increase, Commitment campaign of the regional of strawberry farming and berry between 8 and 10 points, has been due Government of Andalusia through which irrigation, irrigation programming based to the quality of the fruit that is being the so-called zero waste integrated on weather forecast contributes to offered to the consumer and to the production is developed to eliminate

7 What should be considered for the farming of red fruits in Huelva?

Cranberries require soils with a pH. between 4.3 and 5.5. Additionally, the soil must have good drainage to allow a high oxygen content and facilitate the development of the fruit. Besides, cranberries do not stand heavy clays, since it hinders their growth. They are very resistant to cold and the best irrigation system is drip feed.

Sales at a loss

On the opposite side is the reality experienced with sales at a loss of this fruit in large areas. The good situation in terms of exports contrasts with what happens in other areas of Spain. However, and to prevent the events that took place last year, the Interprofessional Association of Andalusian Strawberries (Interfresa) has already announced that is controlling market prices to report attempts continued development of the of price dumping that would be strawberry value chain in 2018. extremely harmful for the

9 Conclusions Out of this production, 90% is exported to and liked by consumers. There are about other countries, mainly to France and 25 varieties that could venture into the There are several agricultural markets that Germany. Sales abroad increased an Spanish market and that would, in some must face a series of challenges in 2018 average of 15% over the last five years. way, impact the rest of Europe. and the farming of strawberries in the Further increasing these figures will Currently, the national strawberries town of Huelva, Spain, is no exception. For depend on hard work involving the plastic Primoris, Rábida and Rociera represent example, it is necessary to strengthen the industry, fertilizers, and the uncontrollable 30% of the production. levels of excellence achieved to continue climate conditions. being a reference in Europe and the rest Today, 400 companies constitute the of the world. Competition in new varieties, Among the materials that stand out for strawberry industry in Spain, which in shifts in consumer trends and control in the farming of strawberries, plastic turn generate 90,000 jobs. If Spain costs of production are part of the mulching prevails, not only as an continues to increase its production, not difficulties that lay ahead. influence on the microclimate in which only would it strengthen its privileged plants grow but also in the case of position in Europe as the leading producer The expansion of strawberry cultivation chemical soil disinfection. In the case of of red fruits, but it would also enter new has evolved thanks to a high level of Greenhouses and Spanish-tunnels, these export markets to compete with other investment in technology, distribution structure provide a protected and stable major producers such as the United States, structures and commercial dynamism, environment for the cultivation of these Mexico, and Chile. which have turned the strawberry into the soft fruits, however, their recent goal is to province's main crop. establish new technologies that will allow berry producers to strengthen the fruit quality standards throughout the duration of the season. In the last five years, the production of this fruit in In terms of varieties, the firm Fresas Spain has grown by 1.5%, Nuevos Materiales (FNM), carries out reaching 355 million euros, 80 to 90 crossings every year, resulting according to Interfresa data in 8,000 to 10,000 new individuals, for 2014. which are selected according to precocity, tolerance to diseases, firmness, colour, and sugar level. In this way, producers seek to establish varieties that can be competitive

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