Huelva confirms forecast 16% increase in berry plantations

Freshuelva, the Huelva Strawberry Producers’ and Exporters’ Association, estimates that the 2013-14 campaign will see 16% more hectares of berries planted (raspberries, blackberries and blueberries), resulting in a total of 2,520 ha given over to these fruits throughout the province. On the other hand, the surface area dedicated to strawberry growing is set to remain constant, with only a slight increase of around 2%, reaching 6,980 hectares.  This is reflected in data provided by Freshuelva member companies, representing around 95% of the sector. 
The rise in the total berry hectares is largely due to the greater role of blueberry, and blackberry. The former’s growing area has increased by 19 % and now covers 1150 ha. This increase in area is not directly in line with the rise in production, as the shrub only starts to bear fruit as of three years after planting.
In turn, blackberry cultivation has increased by 22%, going from 57 to 70 ha. This is a sector gambit aimed at diversification, with the rollout of new varieties to cover a longer time window in the market for this fruit. 
The third berry grown in the province, the raspberry, is also on the rise. In this case, its crop area has risen by 40% compared to last season, with a total of 1300 ha. Along these lines, forest fruits are consolidated in yet another campaign as an alternative to strawberry cultivation and further exploitation is now projected along Huelva’s western coastline. 
As for strawberry, Freshuelva reports that their planting phase suffered significant setbacks, due to the predominant hot, dry weather conditions throughout this stage. This situation led to high mortality of plants unable to withstand the temperature difference between the nursery and the province’s growing areas. 
The farmers are hoping the rains will come, beneficial to the plant root and largely absent throughout the planting phase. Now the work of covering the macrotunnels or greenhouses with plastic begins, to protect the plant from the low winter temperatures.