The FCAC calls to the European Union for an urgent meeting with Turkey for the hazelnut
July 15, 2009
The Federació de Cooperatives Agràries of Catalunya (FCAC) claims to the European Union an urgent bilateral meeting with Turkey to analyze the evolution of the market of the hazelnut. The demand for cooperatives, transferred to the Department and Ministry of agriculture, arises at the prospect that current stocks of Turkish hazelnut will lead to a collapse of prices. The situation in the hazelnut is critical, according to the head of dried fruit of the FCAC, Roger Palau. During the last few weeks, the lonja de Reus has contributed hazelnut black beans to 2.75 euros per kilo, a value which was not so low for seven years, during the last crisis in the market. During this campaign, the Turkish Government has intervened 360,000 tons of hazelnuts which currently accumulates in the form of stock and the surplus of the Turkish variety are even higher, if one takes into account the accumulated from previous seasons. As a result, the FCAC warns that if these stocks are released in a disorderly manner, be it may induce a drastic drop of prices in the market and the abandonment of farms by producers.
Despite this critical situation, the Community institutions refuse to convene the bilateral meeting that stabilizes the global market for the hazelnut based on forecasts of production and the possibilities to adapt supply to demand, since 1998.
