Production increases after a successful 2005

Over the tough 2005 Iberian season Well Pict European’s farm in Portugal managed to maintain its quality record and win the respect of customers across Europe. Over 2006 it looks to be following the same trend as quality reports from UK customers have been first class.

Over the last two years Well Pict European Portugal has been investing heavily in the modernisation of its production, one of the major tasks was the replacement of their wooden greenhouses to steel tunnels. They have replaces 13 has of wood with new steel tunnels designed specifically for the farms layout, and this was carried out in association with WET (Well Pict European Tunnels). This season sees them producing strawberry on 27ha in soil production under 8.8m tunnels and 6 ha of bag production under steel tunnels, all of this is planted with Sabrosa, first trialed in 2004 followed then by a 7ha block in 2005, it is the farms preferred variety, they will have circa 2 million plants this season. This fruit will primarily be destined for the UK, to supply WPE for their supermarket and processor clients. However, sabrosa will also be supplied to customers in Holland, Norway and Switzerland. 4 ha of outdoor 592 will be produces for mid-late season sales to the French speciality market.

This season has seen the farm produce its earliest crop once again, picking the first fruits pre-Christmas and making the first exports in January. Over February the farm saw a 150% increase in their production and export against last year. The farm expects to produce in the region of 2000 tonnes this season.

In addition to replacing the tunnel structures, they have also invested in their irrigation and installed a new pumping system, 3 new “strawberry” cars have been purchased, these are converted escort vans that have hydraulic forks on the back, thanks to these and the 27km of hard roads within the sandy farm the fruit is moved from field to fridge swiftly.

The company continues to invest heavily in its employees, strengthening their management and supervisory team. They have provided time off so that training courses can be undertaken in various subjects, improvements to the infrastructure such as packhouse improvements (blast coolers/new fridges) and a packhouse refurbishment have helped increase staff morale and ensure they can cope with the additional export quality production. Providing the right working conditions is essential and as well as moving into newly built offices on the farm, out in the field they have constructed 6 new canteens and installed 18 new field toilets. At the main building a large canteen provides hot meals at lunch times.

2006 sees the farm working with a new harvest management system; this will help them control their biggest individual cost, labour. MD Garry Mercer hopes that by installing the system they will be able to reward the productive workers and encourage a better work ethic throughout the company.

The labour pool available to Iberian growers opens up in May as the restrictions on nationals from the newest member states are lifted. The farm hopes to make use of this over the 2006/07 season through Fruitful Ltd.

April 2006