The early potato from Andalusia comprising 75% of the Spanish crop, may have fallen 50% this year compared to the previous years, due to rain and bad weather this winter. These climate conditions, reduced the cultivation to 5,000 hectares approximately, as estimated by FEPEX Potato Committee, consisting of producers and traders from all over Spain.
The production of the early potato had to be cultivated in three phases due to the bad weather:
- A first planting before the onset of rains in late December.
- A second planting in the 2nd half of January, taking advantage of the truce offered by the weather.
- A third planting very late, after the rains had ceased, from the 2nd half of March.
The evolution of the culture is somewhat uncertain, since different plantations may be affected by declines in productivity. However, the supply is guaranteed, with lesser amounts, from May to July. The late planting will cause an elongation of the campaign until July.
