One of the most important investments that strawberry producers in Huelva must make is related to the use of selected varieties to be able to produce during the entire campaign. Specifically, the strawberry sector in Huelva invests between 8 and 11 million Euro in royalties each season.
When the red fruit sector publishes its results at the end of the campaign, including the total revenue obtained and the millions of kilos produced, few imagine that some amounts, corresponding to a list of investments, have to be deducted from the total figure. One of these is the payments made to the breeders of the strawberry varieties which made it possible to achieve profitable results during the season.
Usually, the average cost is 21 Euro per thousand plants. The price varies depending on the variety and may be higher or lower than this figure. Although it is difficult to establish how many strawberry plants are planted in each hectare (the number varies depending on the variety and the grower's criteria), there can usually be around 60,000 to 80,000 units. Last season, the sector had 6,340 hectares planted across the province, which means there could have been between 380 and 507 million plants in total, for which 7.9 to 10.6 million Euro would have been paid in royalties. These figures bring to light the importance of the red fruit sector for the survival of others, namely, in this case, for the breeders or licensees of these strawberry varieties.
An investment with good returns
The payments made to grow these strawberry varieties are also beneficial for the sector itself. The Ekland Marketing Company of California (EMCO CAL), explains that their royalties are reinvested in the research programme of the University of Florida for the development of new varieties. Furthermore, the money obtained helps fund the research intended to fight diseases and pests that may affect the sector. Also, these studies are aimed at obtaining varieties with better flavours.
Likewise, the money goes to technical staff, who help the nurseries achieve the best results with their varieties. Furthermore, part of the amount they get from royalties is intended to launch promotional campaigns to boost the fruit's consumption, maintain the demand and facilitate the communication between breeders, producers and traders to maximise returns for the first.
According to a study carried out by the Strawberry Group of the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Training and Research of Andalusia (IFAPA) during the 2014-2015 campaign, led by Juan Jesús Medina, the more popular variety in Huelva in terms of acreage, with 26.7% of the total, was the Fortuna, of EMCO CAL. According to the data they handle, they expect the Fortuna to increase its presence in the province in the next season or, "at the very least, yield similar results," as reported by the head of EMCO CAL in Huelva, Mamen Sánchez.
Besides the Fortuna, and according to this study of the IFAPA, other important varieties are the Sabrina (Planasa), with 16.85% of the total, and the Splendor (Vivero El Pinar), with 11.8%. The fourth most common variety in the province is the native Primoris (Fresas Nuevos Materiales, FNM), with 10.32%. FNM director Antonio Refoyo has stressed that if the industry decides to cut the acreage because of the lack of water "it will affect us, of course." For the proper development of the strawberry season, we must also take into account the labour costs generated by the nurseries, which are usually located outside the province of Huelva, for the preparation of these plants before their arrival in the province of Huelva. This includes payments to workers, technicians, etc.
Source: plataformaregadioscondado.com