Asaja Alicante has revealed significant losses in lemon production due to severe frosts experienced in January. The impacts were particularly felt in the Vega Baja and Camp d’Elx areas, leading to damages estimated at seventy thousand tonnes in the Alicante province. The agricultural organisation also indicated that the Region of Murcia has been affected even more, with losses potentially exceeding double that amount. Overall, this could result in roughly one hundred and fifty thousand tonnes of lemon damage across both provinces.

According to José Vicente Andreu, President of Asaja Alicante, thirty-three percent of insured lemons reported frost damage, marking a notable increase in claims of this type. Asaja is calling for more transparency from the lemon interprofessional regarding the timeliness and accuracy of information released about damages. They stress that farmers must know the actual status of their crops to maintain fair market relations.

The organisation highlights a troubling combination of factors, namely the reduced lemon supply and high market demand. As the frost has cut the expected production by one hundred and fifty thousand tonnes, higher prices for lemons may follow if conditions remain normal. Andreu pointed out that without timely updates on frost damage and actual lemon stock levels, it is ultimately the farmers who will suffer the consequences.

In addition to these production challenges, Asaja Alicante noted a decrease in the import of Turkish lemons into Europe recently, further impacting the market at a time when local producers are already facing difficulties due to the frosts. Furthermore, reductions in lemon production are also expected from Argentina, where there is a shift towards cultivating other crops, like soy and sugar, instead of maintaining lemon orchards.