PROPERTY SEARCH
Lemons selling for eight times more in shops than growers earn
Citrus farmers in Vega Baja are being paid 40 cents for lemons that later fetch nearly €3 in supermarkets
If you’ve bought lemons lately, you’ve probably noticed the price has crept up. According to a new report by FACUA (a non-profit, Spanish, consumer rights group) lemons are now the food item with the biggest price rise this July - up nearly 60% compared to the same month last year.The reason? It’s not currently lemon season in Spain, which means fewer local supplies. On top of that, poor international harvests and rising transport costs have pushed prices up further.
But despite the hike, farmers say they’re still getting a raw deal.
Miguel Poveda, a citrus grower in the Vega Baja area of Alicante province, said that growers like him are being paid just 40 cents per kilo, while the same lemons are being sold in supermarkets for up to €3.
“We’re charging around 40 cents, and we’re seeing it at around three euros in the supermarket,” he said. “We understand that it costs more to pick because there’s less fruit, we have to walk further and search more in the tree, but it’s still a 650% difference. The consumer can end up paying eight times more than we’re paid.”
Poveda believes most people would be shocked to know how little farmers earn. He wants shoppers to start paying closer attention to where their produce comes from and to choose local products when possible.
“In the end, the food chain law isn’t fully enforced,” he explained. “What we really need is a proper monitoring system to see who’s taking what margin at each stage. That way, consumers could make informed choices and support those of us who are working the land.”
He added, “I’m convinced that most people would prefer to choose a local product over something from abroad, if only they knew what’s really going on.”
Image: Cristina Anne Costello/Unsplash
