Moroccan raspberries are selling well. Dutch raspberries are selling at high prices while Spain continues to lose market share to Morocco. Spotlight.
The raspberry season is in full swing in the Netherlands, marked by high initial prices for robust, quality fruit. “The particularly high prices for Dutch raspberries are good news for local producers. However, the weather will play a crucial role in the progress of this season,” confides a fruit trader to the specialized site. Freshplaza. The stability of the Moroccan season is also highlighted, with favorable prices for producers. “No major volume problems were encountered between weeks 8 and 13. The recurring question is whether we should continue beyond the Moroccan season (week 18/19) due to the quality of the fruits, especially the Adelita variety.”
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In Portugal, although volumes remained low this year, the quality of the fruit was there, allowing producers to benefit from slightly higher prices than in other regions. On the other hand, Spain had a difficult season, marked by a water shortage, high temperatures and a colder start to the season, affecting the volumes and quality of production. “Spain sometimes seems to favour quantity over quality, which allows it to remain competitive only in the low-end retail segment,” the trader adds to the same source. “In recent years, Spain has continued to lose market share to Morocco, due to water availability, weather conditions and production costs.”
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Morocco, the main non-EU competitor of Spanish raspberries on the European market, has not been spared the effects of high temperatures and drought, considerably reducing local production after a decade of continuous increase. According to Eurostat data, between September 2023 and February 2024, volumes exported to Europe decreased by 20% compared to the previous campaign.
