Stone Fruit

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Spanish hopeful of Chinese market entry deals soon on stone fruit, grapes

BORRAR AQSIQ-English-Logo

Spain is optimistic its fresh plum, peaches and nectarines will soon be imported by China.

And it is also happy with progress on a protocol which would see the Asian giant also open its doors to fresh Spanish table grapes. Spanish Secretary of State for Trade Jaime García-Legaz said recently he hoped to have positive news by the end of the year.

Final report due on Spanish plums, peaches, nectarines

A spokesman from the Spanish Ministry of Economy told EFD the Chinese phytosanitary requirements for plums, peaches and nectarines have now been “practically cemented” by AQSIQ (China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine).

 

In August, Chinese inspectors visited areas of plum, peach and nectarine production in Spain to verify the controls in place and their resulting assessment was regarded as “positive”, he said. After this visit, the Chinese phytosanitary requirements had been largely specified, “and it’s hoped that soon, perhaps before the end of this year, they will issue their final report and with that proceed to open the Chinese market for these products,” he said.

AQSIQ visits expected soon for Spanish table grapes

On grapes, he said Spain is waiting for China to complete its pest risk analysis, as part of which the phytosanitary requirements for this product will be determined. A visit by Chinese inspectors to Spanish production areas will follow.

 

No date has yet been set for these visits, but García-Legaz said he is optimistic about having “good news” in coming weeks about the scheduling of the visits and anticipates they will take place as early as possible in 2015.

 

In 2013, China imported table grapes worth US $514 million. Spain already has a citrus protocol with China – signed in 2005 after six years of negotiation – and believes its early stone fruit season will give it an edge there.

 

Learn more about the Chinese market in our recent report “How fruit fared in China in 2013”

 

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The La Coma group: steady, controlled growth

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One of Catalonia’s major stone fruit exporters, The La Coma group, consisting of Fruits Sant Miquel SL, SAT La Clamor and SAT La Capelleta, expects its production for the 2014 campaign to come to 35,000 tons, two thousand more than the last one, thereby continuing its line of steady, controlled growth. It has been operating for over 30 years in the domestic and international markets with stone fruit production in the provinces of Tarragona and Lleida and about 1,200 hectares of produce, exporting over 50% of this, which makes the La Coma group one of the largest Catalan stone fruit exporters. Nectarines and saturn peaches (35% and 30% of their production) are their main varieties of stone fruit, followed by peaches (with 25%), apricots (5%), plums (3%) and cherries (2%). In addition to an increase in production for the current season, the La Coma group’s manager, Carlos Lozano, expects an improvement in sugar levels. This will improve their quality objectives for their fruit, which is certified with BRC, IFS and GlobalGAP, among others. Among the La Coma group’s projects, Carlos Lozano explains that a company will be formed with the Catalan companies Fruites Font and Caberol Fruits to combine synergies and strengthen their presence in overseas markets. After years of success in international markets, especially with exports to European destinations (mainly Germany, Italy, the UK and France), the group has set itself the challenge of strengthening its overseas sales in the Americas.  As for new products, Carlos Lozano explains that they intend to make a stake on renewing varieties and differentiating themselves on the shop shelves. To do so, they have joined the Regal’In project, now in its third year, which was created to offer consumers quality products with consistent flavour. Under this brand, consumers are guaranteed they will acquire products always with the same taste and quality. MP

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Cot International’s new range of apricots

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Many new varieties are being trialled at Cot International’s experimental orchards in Murcia and Saint Gilles. Among them are very early and very late apricot varieties that are already available and have excellent organoleptic qualities and proven agronomic suitability. Cot International is also working on an expansion of its range of Japanese-American plums. Those available are a garnet (dark red) skin with yellow flesh plum (registered as Grenadine) and a red skin with red flesh plum.

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Actel Group to have more fruit and more destinations

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Forecasts for the next stone fruit campaign are looking good for Catalonian leaders the Actel Group, despite the uncertain and changeable weather. With the incorporation of new members, Actel Group Commercial and Marketing Director, José Luis Trilla, confirms a planned increase in productive and trading capacity, with a view to reaching up to 140,000 t. Their main market is Europe, where the most important countries are Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, France, Austria and the UK, while at the same time their exports to Brazil, Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries are also increasing.  In overseas destinations, the Actel Group’s export share is showing significant growth.  The estimated total for this campaign is around 122,000 tons in volume, distributed in several categories. In first place, their flagship product, stone fruit (peach 18,000 tons, nectarine 19,800 t, plum 1980 t, flat peach, etc.), 75% of which is shipped to markets outside Spain. Next up are pears (36,500 t), meeting overseas delivery quotas at around 60 % with varieties such as Limonera, Ercolini, Blanquilla, Williams, Abate or Alejandrina.  In apples, only 35% is exported, although this figure is set to rise for Galas and Reds. In citruses (clementines 14.500 t and oranges 7,500 t) almost all the produce is shipped abroad, around 95%.  “Our strategy is to boost our presence in international markets, not forgetting Spain, where we are increasingly better positioned”, explains Trilla. Along with this, following an environmentally friendly trading policy, they now implement an internal protocol known as “HEALTHY FRUITS”, with the aim of generating minimum waste, choosing materials that meet the ARfD standard and at all times below 1/3 of the European MRL.

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Tany Natur presents new corporate image

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Tany Nature, leader in stone fruit in Extremadura, launched its new corporate image at Fruit Logistica 2014, with a brand that pledges COMPLETE QUALITY from the outset. 
“Because we are both producers and packers, we can guarantee to our final customers the BEST TASTE. At Tany´s plantation, we start with good planting stock with the highest quality  parameter, to grow products are apt for transport over long distances, and that they meet the demands of each customer. Stone fruit usually has very delicate skin so, to ensure complete quality, inside and outside, demands real experts who know the evolution of each variety and how to handle it, in order to respond to the specific needs of each market. Therefore, the specialists on our team are very experienced and really know what they are doing to produce very healthy fruit,” explained José Maria Naranjo, the marketing and markets develops director of the top stone fruit company in Extremadura.
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Early starts to Spanish season with Primor

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Primor, Andalusian leader in stone fruit, expects a total of 19,725 tons this season, a similar volume to last year, but with the difference that this season looks like starting in mid-April, a week earlier than usual. In comparison with last year, production is expected to be lower in the case of both white flesh (870 tn) and yellow flesh peaches (3170 tn), yellow flesh pavia (115 tn), and white (870 tn) and yellow fresh nectarines (10,330 tn). Volumes are expected to increase, however, for paraguayos (saturn peaches, from 600-930 tn) plumcots (230 tn), plums (3,080 tn) and apricots (170 tn). The plums are a standout: production began just two years ago and today 3,000 tons are exported. Primor’s fruit is distributed in supermarkets (70%) and wholesale markets (30%). Its main export destinations continue to be Switzerland (20%), Holland (19%), Germany (13%), and the UK (9%), among others in Europe. Primor is shifting to a more evocative and surrealistic image with its communication and marketing. “Using magic and mythological beings far from having a close association with fruit consumption conveys a message: We are different and we do things differently. Above all we are producers, but we’re also a service provider, which allows us to be very versatile and adapt to different needs,” Sebastián Adnot explained. The transition from Five to Primor required clients to trust and believe in the company’s new way of working – which was achieved and went smoothly. The company will not only continue offering stone fruit but now include citrus. 
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