Hailstorm cuts Valencia kaki output for the second year

A hailstorm that swept through parts of Spain’s Valencia region on Monday afternoon has caused significant damage to the kaki crop, reducing expected output during the peak of the harvest season.

The storm affected several municipalities in Ribera Alta, including Carlet, Massalavés, and l’Alcúdia, areas that account for a substantial share of Spain’s kaki production. According to local producers, the impact was concentrated on fruit still on the trees, which represented a large portion of the remaining harvest.

Rafael Cosme, general manager of the Ribercamp cooperative in Carlet, said around 50% of the cooperative’s crop had yet to be harvested when the hail hit. He estimated damage on affected farms at between 40% and 60%. “Harvesting was proceeding at a good pace and according to plan, but the hail significantly affected the remaining fruit,” he said.

The Spanish Kaki Association put the overall damage at about 20% of the remaining harvest nationwide. Its president, Pascual Prats, noted that the sector had already revised down production expectations by roughly 20% earlier in the season because of adverse weather and pest pressure. “Supply is falling again at a time when the market was relatively calm,” he said, adding that high farmgate prices this year were becoming increasingly difficult to justify under the current conditions.

Market participants said the timing of the storm could further tighten availability in the coming weeks. Typically, supply becomes more concentrated in early November, when sales tend to slow as markets approach saturation. However, Cosme said volumes had already been declining in recent days, and the hail damage was expected to reduce shipments further, limiting fruit available to meet orders.

Beyond the immediate crop losses, producers highlighted rising structural costs in kaki production. Cosme said production costs have increased by about 50% over the past decade, driven largely by the spread of new pests and the need for more frequent treatments. He added that products authorized for use under European Union regulations are often more expensive and, in some cases, less effective.

Ribercamp had initially forecast a harvest of around 52,000 tons this season. About 90% of its production is marketed through the Anecoop cooperative, mainly to large retail chains. The cooperative expects to conclude the season by mid-January, although some buyers have indicated interest in extending supplies beyond that point despite tighter volumes.