Devastating floods in Spain decimate citrus and persimmon orchards

On Oct. 29 and 30, the eastern and southern parts of Spain were hit by one of the most devastating storms in decades. A weather phenomenon known as “depresión aislada en niveles altos,” which translates as “isolated depression at high levels,” triggered heavy rains, with a year’s worth of rainfall arriving in just eight hours. These downpours led to the death of over 220 people and flooded numerous roads and large areas of farmland, wreaking havoc on the country’s infrastructure and agriculture. Spain is one of Europe’s largest exporters of fruit and vegetables as well as the world’s biggest exporter of citrus. Valencia, located on the east coast, and Andalusia, Spain’s southernmost region, grow the majority of the country’s fresh produce, including two-thirds of its citrus crop. The Valencian Agricultural Producers’ Association (AVA-ASAJA) stated that it anticipates significant damage to the region’s crops and operations, with citrus, persimmons, vegetables and avocados being ...