January Frosts Result in Loss of 70,000 Tons of Lemons in Southern Alicante Province

January's cold spell that hit the province mid-month has caused damage to Alicante's crops. Lemons, already facing a severe profitability crisis, were among the hardest hit by sub-zero temperatures recorded mainly between the 10th and 15th.

Towns such as Bigastro, Jacarilla, Almoradí, San Isidro, and Albatera, among others, experienced mornings as cold as -4 degrees. The Vega Baja and Camp d'Elx were the two major areas affected by frost damage to lemon crops.

The Alicante Province Young Farmers Association (Asaja) explains that frost damage has resulted in a loss of 70,000 tons of lemons in Alicante, with combined losses in Murcia pushing the total to 150,000 tons.

The president of Asaja Alicante details that 33% of insured lemons have reported frost damage, a figure "not seen in a long time." The frost has impacted the fruit at a crucial time in the season, with 600,000 tons of 'fino' lemons still to be harvested and all of the 'verna', according to Asaja.

Therefore, the association calls for transparency from the interprofessional body of this fruit and demands that "the entire sector be informed of the frost damage so that there is a serious and proportional market response." Asaja laments that "despite the good production expected, the frosts have devastated much of it in southern Alicante province, thus reducing the citrus supply," all in a high-demand scenario.

Andreu asserts that, considering the law of supply and demand, "in the coming months, under normal circumstances, lemon prices for farmers should rise." These damages add to other issues plaguing lemons, such as the crisis that led many farmers not to insure their crops. This is compounded by the reduction in Turkish and Argentine lemons, amid high demand.