Costa Blanca

Alicante’s frost damage: “Lemon prices must rise”

The January cold snap has had a severe effect on lemon trees, according to the agricultural group Asaja. It estimated that it had an impact on about 70,000 tonnes of lemons in the region of Alicante. They therefore request that “lemon prices for farmers should rise.”

According to José Vicente Andreu, president of ASAJA Alicante, frost damage has been reported on 33% of insured lemons, “a figure that has not been reported for a long time due to this cause.” Additionally, he remembers that it arrives at a challenging time because by the end of December, over 600,000 tonnes of fino and all verna kinds were still available.

They demand in a statement that the lemon industry association be transparent about how it disseminates information and provide accurate data: “The damage caused by frost is significant, so the sector as a whole must be aware of this data so that there is a serious and proportional relationship in the market and the work of the farmer in the field is respected.”

And for what reason do they request it? They contend that the farmer is the only one who suffers if current information on frost damage and actual commercial lemon stocks is not supplied in a timely manner. One in three policies with lemon and frost coverage have reported this incidence, which happened on January 15th, according to statistics from Asaja.

Between January 10th and 15th, several communities in the Bajo Segura region experienced extreme cold, with temperatures below zero degrees. Extremely cold temperatures reached -4 degrees in the large municipal area of Orihuela, including Dehesa de Pinohermoso, Arneva, Hurchillo, La Murada, and Desamparados; comparable readings were also noted in the towns of Bigastro, Jacarilla, Benejúzar, Almoradí, Daya Nueva, Daya Vieja, Albatera, Benferri, and San Isidro, among others.

The union emphasises that the citrus fruit, which was on the tree and ready to be harvested, suffered significant dehydration damage as a result of these harsh circumstances. Since it cannot be sold, the farmer is now responsible for absorbing additional losses on top of those incurred in 2024, when a crisis of unparalleled proportions led to many farmers failing to insure their harvests.

The Asaja statement ends by highlighting another factor that they believe is making matters worse: a decline in Turkish lemon imports into Europe in recent years. The recent frosts that have struck that nation’s producing regions will make this truth even more apparent. Argentina, where the tendency of uprooting lemon trees to cultivate other commodities like soybeans and sugar is solidifying, will also see a decline in production in the southern hemisphere.

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Related Topics:Alicante Europe Fruit Market Orihuela

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Costa Blanca

15-year-old boy caught driving three times the speed limit

Local police in the Alicante municipality of San Vicente del Raspeig have located and identified a 15-year-old boy who boasted in a video uploaded to the social media platform TikTok about driving at 120 kilometres per hour.

The video, which was captured at 1:30 p.m. on February 19th on Calle Río Turis in San Vicente, seess him driving a car at a speed that was three times the maximum speed limit of 40 km/h. Additionally, he is accompanied by other juveniles inside the vehicle.

The young man is facing charges for a variety of potential road safety violations, such as irresponsible driving, driving without a licence and speeding.

According to a police report that has been submitted to the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office in Alicante, the car in which the minors were travelling is owned by the driver’s father. The report identifies all occupants.

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Costa Blanca

Hiker rescued after sustaining a head injury during a fall

Today, the Alicante Provincial Fire Consortium rescued a 77-year-old man who suffered a head injury after sliding while hiking in Collado del Polçet, Cabeçó d’Or, Alicante.

According to the aforementioned agency, the Alpha 01 rescue helicopter and the GER special rescue group were dispatched to the location at approximately 1:38 p.m. upon receiving the alert.

The injured individual was immediately evacuated to the helipad of the Doctor Balmís General Hospital in Alicante by the firefighters after they had located him. The operation concluded at approximately 3:05 p.m.

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Costa Blanca

Police in Alicante seize 1,300 kilos of cocaine from two trucks

Two large vehicles carrying 1,300 kilos of cocaine were intercepted by agents from the Drug and Organised Crime Unit (UDYCO) of the National Police in Alicante. The French Customs and the Central Investigation Office of the Polish Police provided support to the investigation, which was conducted by the Alicante Police Station in collaboration with the Catalonia Headquarters and coordinated by Europol.

According to sources from the investigation, these vehicles were intercepted at a service station in France and in an area near Barcelona after travelling through the province of Alicante. The operation has led to the interception of over one tonne of narcotics that were intended for several European countries.

The events occurred on March 16th when French authorities discovered a large vehicle with Polish registration at a service station in France, en route to Lyon. 800 kilogrammes of cocaine were discovered concealed within aluminium materials during the inspection of this vehicle. The coordination mechanisms between countries were immediately activated through Europol, and the driver was arrested for an alleged offence against public health.

Cooperation was established with the Central Investigation Office of the Police, specifically with the department in Rzeszów, following the discovery of the first vehicle. This collaboration resulted in the discovery of a second truck near Barcelona.

The National Police discovered an additional 500 kilogrammes of cocaine, this time concealed among porcelain construction materials, as a result of their collaboration with the Polish side. The National Police’s Special Security Operations Group (GOES) provided assistance to the investigators in the transportation of the narcotics.

Currently, the investigation is ongoing, and Europol is coordinating efforts between Spain, France, and Poland to dismantle the criminal organisation that is dedicated to high-level drug trafficking.