Unió de Pagesos (UP) has criticized this Tuesday the opacity of the Lonja de Reus when setting prices and regrets that there has been practically no change in the hazelnut sector for three years.
The producers demand that at least the contributions be higher than 2.5 euros.
This year, farmers expect a harvest of around 3,000 tons of hazelnuts, which represents between 30% and 40% less than the previous season.
The extreme drought and the difficulties of irrigating crops in the Riudecanyes swamp area are the main reasons for this drop in production. They also denounce that the prices of almonds and carob beans are below cost.
Regarding the new denomination of hazelnut DOP (Protected Designation of Origin), farmers have been surprised.
"We are amazed, it is an agreement between the operators, without consulting anyone," said Sergi Martin, national head of Dried Fruit of UP.
