Flooded fields delay beginning of Extremadura 2010 tomato planting

摘要

Spain's Extremadura tomato plantings have been delayed as a result of heavy rain that has hit the region in recent weeks. Planting should have begun at the start of April, but as of the third week of April nothing had happened as fields were under water. Industry sources say planting may now begin in early May, but rains were still plaguing the region until very recently, and the fields will need time to dry out before work can start in earnest. A Spanish source told FOODNEWS: "Normally by this timeof year you should already have about 50% of the acreage [planted] and we have not been able to go more than 5%." A combination of low motivation on the part of the farmers, due to the low raw material prices set this year, and problems accessing the fields, are even encouraging some growers to abandon the early crop.