When citrus fruit production in Spain suffers, the effects can be seen on the shelves of Finnish stores and in the wallets of consumers. Tiina Somerpuro
The floods in Spain have caused extensive damage to citrus fruit plantations, so that the availability of clementines and mandarins, for example, may decrease in Finnish stores as well.
When Spain’s supply decreases, the demand for fruit from other producing regions increases.
S-group and Lidl do not publicly assess the impact of the situation on the prices of citrus fruits in Finnish stores. They refer to the competition law, which prohibits price signaling.
Product group manager of the S group’s grocery store Brother Matti Puhakka comment on the matter at a general level. He says that Spain is a major producer of edible citrus fruits.
– Universally speaking, it can be said that demand and supply are usually always reflected in the price level in some way, Puhakka states.
The K group responded to Iltalehti’s request for an interview by sending a written statement by email, which is named as the fruit purchasing and sales manager of the grocery industry Nanette Karttunen.
– For now, it is still difficult to assess whether the situation will affect prices globally or in Finland, and if so, how much. The issue is affected by, among other things, the relationship between availability and demand at the European level and the situation in other countries of origin, the statement reads.
“They can’t help but be affected”
In its email response to Iltalehti, Lidl did not even present a general level assessment of the price development.
Ketju says that currently the availability of citrus fruits is mostly good at Lidl, but the future is unknown.
– However, the investigation of all the damage is still underway in the citrus production areas, and the final effects on the Spanish citrus season are still difficult to assess, the email says.
According to Lidl, there will inevitably be some effects.
– However, heavy rains and floods cannot help affecting the availability and quality of vegetables.
Thousands of acres
The floods in the southern and eastern parts of Spain have already claimed the lives of more than 200 people. In addition to that, they have ravaged the agricultural lands of the province of Valencia, so that crops can be lost for thousands of hectares.
A significant part of the citrus fruits sold in Finnish stores comes from the Valencia region.
S Group’s Veli-Matti Puhakka previously stated to Iltalehti that the effects of floods on infrastructure also have their own impact.
– Deliveries of goods may be late, because [Espanjan] you have water.
Puhakka tells Iltalehte on Monday that the situation in Spain specifically affects the availability of edible citrus fruits.
– For example, orange juice is another story. It’s more that South America.
Citrus fruits are known to be healthy for humans in many ways. They have been called, among other things, vitamin bombs.
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