The Reus Market held its hazelnut, almond, and carob price tables this Monday and Tuesday to mark the start of the new season. These meetings, held since 2019, aim to enhance market transparency and the participation of various agricultural sector stakeholders. They analyze the previous campaign, the outlook for the current one, and propose improvements, fostering debate and consensus. Participants include representatives from the Generalitat de Catalunya, market operators, producers, unions, cooperatives, and the Reus Market itself.
Regarding hazelnuts, a slightly better harvest than last year is anticipated, although the crop faces a difficult situation. Climate change, pest control, competition from Turkish hazelnuts, and production in Chile have led to a farmgate price between 25 and 60 cents lower per variety. Producers are requesting aid due to rising costs, particularly diesel, and are asking for the inclusion of non-professional farmers.
The industrial sector has also requested urgent measures due to a lack of profitability and maintenance costs. The Market will draft a letter to the Minister of Agriculture, Òscar Ordeig, demanding aid for producers, non-professional farmers, increased diesel costs, support for the industrial sector, and consideration of the European Common Agricultural Policy. A new meeting with the minister is planned for follow-up.
The almond price table anticipates a good harvest, but with quality issues in rain-fed almonds due to recent drought. While irrigated crops are doing well, rain-fed cultivation is suffering the consequences of climate change. Aid has been requested for this crop, and farmgate prices are between 15 and 30 cents higher than the previous campaign.
For carobs, prospects are better, but competition from Moroccan carob keeps prices low, despite a 10 cent increase in farmgate prices. Unió de Pagesos has proposed including a new high-yield variety in the market report, a demand positively received. Aid will be requested for new carob plantations and certification with the Sustainable Agricultural Production seal.
The Market does not set prices but reports those provided by operators and verifies the minimum reference price at origin. Discussions will be held with the new Agriculture technician from the Provincial Council of Tarragona to promote carob cultivation.
