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The
Well-Pict European farm in Portugal has started
picking earlier than ever before this season; the first harvest of
Festival was on the 29th November, almost a month earlier than
the first fruit was picked last season (22/12/03). The team in Portugal
has put in an additional 16ha of Spanish-type tunnels and two new hectares
of hydroponics. This brings the total in production for the 04/05 season
to 36ha (34 covered and 2 uncovered). This area is made up of Festival
(pictured), Sabrosa (Candonga), PS 592 (Endurance) and Camarosa. This
selection should allow them to continue harvesting until the middle or end
of August with PS 592.
At the peak of
production, the farm will need in the region of 300 harvesters. This
season sees the team putting a big effort into getting it right for the UK
market. The early Festival, Sabrosa and hydroponic Camarosa have been
planted for the UK; however, some of the end-of-season Festival and
Camarosa are expected to go to Norway. The majority of the PS 592 crop is
destined for the French market with a small percentage reserved for
Holland. As Portugal reaches the end of its season, it will switch to
supplying the Spanish home market. In addition to the new tunnels, a new
ferti-irrigation system has been installed that will see the whole farm
monitored by computer. |
