FRESH PLAZA
In April, 3,000 tonnes of strawberries exempt of import duties and another 1,000 tonnes with a 50% reduction may cross the border.
The Association of Producers and Importers of Strawberries from Huelva, Freshuelva, is currently on alert against the agricultural protocol included in the Partnership Agreement between the European Union (EU) and Morocco; an agreement which was criticised by the Spanish Federation of Associations of Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters (Fepex), as it entails the liberalisation of Moroccan fruit and vegetable exports towards the EU, and made a request to the European Commission for stricter controls on food in the border.
In a statement to Europa Press, Freshuelva’s manager, Rafael Domínguez, stressed that the European Union “should enforce quality standards” to ensure that all the fruit, including that imported from other countries, goes through the same controls before being consumed.
This agreement allows Morocco to preferentially export tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, garlic, clementines and strawberries. It also extends the time during which this is allowed, leading to imports entering the EU during particularly sensitive periods for local products. In April, 3,000 tonnes of strawberries exempt of import duties and another 1,000 tonnes with a 50% reduction may cross the border.
Freshuelva’s manager said that in those circumstances “there will be a larger amount of fruit in the European market, as April is also the season for French strawberries,” so the conditions will have to be assessed.
He stressed that Moroccan strawberries will possibly be sold “at a cheaper price than those from Huelva, as production costs are much lower.”
Nevertheless, despite these circumstances, strawberry growers face 2013 with high hopes “because weather conditions are being favourable and the campaign is expected to end well.”
The campaign advances at a normal pace, just like two years ago, and the harvest has yet to begin. The association explains that last year, in December, there was more sunshine and this allowed for the harvest to take place several weeks in advance, but this year everything is going as originally planned.
Source: EuropaPress
Publication date: 1/7/2013
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