Lemon drama. Hundreds of millions of losses and over PLN 400,000. tons of citrus fruits “for the trash”

According to the latest estimates of the Spanish agricultural association (COAG), approximately 400,000 will not be sold this season. tons of lemons that will end up in the garbage. That’s about 27 percent. Spanish production – says . Losses are estimated at EUR 120 million. Spanish farmers claim that the critical situation is not only the result of the flood of lemons from outside the EU, which reach the market mainly from Turkey, Egypt, Argentina and South Africa. They also mention climate change, insects and various plant diseases among the causes of losses.

“Spain is the leader and it controls the situation”

Another problem raised, among others, by the World Citrus Organization (WCO) is the excessive growth of lemon cultivation in Spain in the Mediterranean basin. According to Spanish farmers, the lament of the inflow of lemons from other countries is misplaced, because Spanish citrus fruits still dominate in Europe. And Spain should rather think about limiting production to restore the “balance of supply and demand”. – Spain is the market leader, it controls the situation, it is always easy to blame someone else, but we must accept that we live in markets where there must be a minimum level of competition – said WCO Secretary General Philippe Binard.

400 thousand tons of lemons – such will be the losses

In turn, representatives of Ailimpo, an organization promoting lemons and pomelos, have no doubts where the problem lies. This includes the pursuit of large profits. – Production is out of control. The data speaks very clearly. The cultivated area increased from 36 thousand. hectares eight years ago to almost 53 thousand. hectares currently. If the market is able to absorb 1.1 million tons of lemons, and the estimated production for this season is 1.5 million, then 400,000 will remain in the fields. tone – says one of the organization’s representatives.