The stuffed avocados rank among the special treats of Christmas in numerous homes across the Islands. In Tenerife, the price of this green fruit is set to rise during the festive season, as costs have already surged, doubling in just a few days in response to the initial reports on the severe impact of storm Dorothea. The intense winds primarily affected the Northern Zone, although the other traditional agriculture hub of this seasonal favourite, the Güímar Valley, was spared. Other crops that suffered considerable damage included potatoes, particularly the black variety—one of the unique and ancient types found in this region—alongside bananas and all greenhouse produce.
Price Surge
“Last week, prices were two euros per kilo, and now they exceed four.” This is according to Mercatenerife at the wholesale level. Theo Hernando, the general secretary of the Association of Farmers and Ranchers of the Canary Islands (Asaga), explains, “the Fuerte variety (smooth skin) costs between 3 and 3.50 euros, while the Hass (rough skin), the predominant type on the Island, ranges from 4.20 to 5.” Toño, from Frutería Los Chuchis in La Salle, comments: “There are potentially more avocados than ever before at this point in the season.” He suggests that the South balances the storm’s impacts from the North. “The first are priced at 4.50 and the latter at 3.50 euros,” he reveals. However, he also notes that there may be a shortage leading up to Christmas Eve, possibly causing prices to climb further.
The Produce
“I purchased a kilo of avocados in Paris for 1.5 euros.” This observation has become common among Canarians in the notoriously expensive City of Light. What accounts for such disparity? For the last 35 years, avocados and other crops have been banned from importation to the Canary Islands to prevent pest issues. Consequently, the produce sold in Tenerife is, in theory, entirely local, with an annual average yield of 11,000 kilos. The cultivation has notably increased over recent years on the Island, utilising over 1,000 hectares. Production escalated from 1.7 million kilos in 2012 to more than 4.29 million in 2020. Currently, farming practices are extending beyond the traditional boundaries of the Güímar and La Orotava Valleys.
Impact of Winds
Theo Hernando asserts that “the worst damage this time occurred in the La Orotava Valley, Valle de Guerra, and Tejina, where certain farms have experienced a 50% reduction in production.” He elaborates, “We need to assess the damage, which will take between seven and ten days, but at the provincial level –Tenerife, La Palmas, La Gomera, and El Hierro– the losses could amount to 500 hectares across all crops.”
Another key product during Christmas is the black potato, which was priced between 9 and 10 euros in Merca yesterday, but averages 15 euros for consumers. This crop, planted in summer, is almost ready for harvest to accompany salted fish in traditional dishes for the season. Typically, common potatoes are planted between January and February for harvest from April to June. Recently, King Edward potatoes were priced at 1.20 euros, while local varieties reached 1.80 euros. In terms of bananas, the most severely impacted locations included Alcalá and parts of Guía de Isora, experiencing losses of up to 30%, with numerous banana trees left with fruit dangling. In regards to vineyards, Romeo Rodríguez, a viticulturist from Tegueste, explains that “although the wind was somewhat beneficial, it damaged iron and wooden trellises that need repair, exposing the vines for pruning.” In contrast, midland areas cultivating potatoes, millet, or vegetables have faced issues with defoliation, dehydration, and crop shaking. Rodríguez highlights, “My neighbours have experienced significant difficulties due to these fierce winds.”
Flora and Foliage
Cut flower, plant, or vegetable farms, both outdoors and particularly within greenhouses, endured the effects of wind gusts exceeding one hundred kilometres per hour. The Association of Flower and Plant Producers of the Canary Islands (Asocan) estimates losses at 23,000 square metres, spanning two to three hectares, “only for those farmers who have reached out to us for insurance assessments,” according to managing director Antonio López. The impact was particularly felt among producers from the Güímar Valley, where strong winds devastated sunflowers in open-air farms (3,000 square metres) or cut flowers in plastic greenhouses (5,000). Los Reflejos, known for outdoor cut flowers, especially chrysanthemums (5,000); La Orotava, home to outdoor ornamental plant nurseries (4,000), and Tacoronte, with outdoor cactus nurseries (3,000), also suffered. Additionally, in the south, at Playa San Juan, around another 3,000 square metres of plastic greenhouses experienced damage, with immediate replacements needed. López assesses: “The damage is present, but it’s less than we initially anticipated. It would have been catastrophic had this occurred before Easter Flower or All Saints’ Day.” Cristino Rodríguez, an ornamental plant producer from Valle de Guerra, confirms, “This wind has had an impact given that we have already been enduring significant drought conditions.” He anticipates this will affect market prices.
Initial Assessment
The Agrarian Extension Agencies of the Cabildo de Tenerife released an initial report following the preliminary evaluation of storm Dorothea’s damage within the Tenerife countryside. In the southern area, only the Adeje-Guía de Isora-Santiago del Teide locality was affected. In Guía de Isora, damage has reached up to 50% in some greenhouse coverings, with more considerable losses in older infrastructures. Several windbreak walls also collapsed. For outdoor banana trees, a 50-60% fading was noted, with some plants collapsing. In terms of avocados, the gusts caused fruit drop, partial defoliation of trees, and loss of grafts in younger plantations.
In the Northern region, significant damage centred around the La Orotava Valley and Icod El Alto (Los Realejos), with lesser impacts in the medians of San Juan de La Rambla and La Guancha. In most other municipalities, damages were minimal. In fruit crops, avocados pending harvest have seen a damage rate of around 50%. Banana crops experienced considerable leaf loss and the falling of seedlings, alongside citrus plantations. Damage to vegetables and potatoes could reach 40% of total production. Additionally, the peri-urban regions including Santa Úrsula, La Victoria, La Matanza, El Sauzal, Tacoronte, La Laguna, and El Rosario were among the most affected, with notable damage exceeding 30% in production, primarily impacting bananas, avocados, citrus, outdoor vegetables, and potatoes.