Spain: A plan for the Valencian citrus industry

Farmers know this well. This has been a complicated citrus campaign for many producers, who have shown their discouragement and their difficulties in maintaining crops. A situation that has been a consequence, to a large extent, of massive imports from third countries with phytosanitary requirements that Brussels does not allow its member states and that have plummeted prices and have opened the door to the possible introduction of pests that would threaten future crops. The excess supply in the European markets, with massive imports of citrus fruits from South Africa and other third countries, has caused that at the end of last January the prices of the Valencian orange ranged between 10 and 15 cents per kilo. on tree. Prices with which it is difficult to cover production costs, especially if they compete with fruits that concur with more lax restrictions in phytosanitary matters and with a logic of commercial privilege in the community markets that endanger own production. ...