Soft fruits: the sector is slowing down
After several years of growth, the soft fruit sector is experiencing a very difficult 2023-2024 season. A drop in cultivated area, a fall in production and, in turn, a decline in exports. «Last season, the area under red fruit was 13,355 hectares. This year, it is 12,250 hectares, a drop of more than 1,000 hectares. This is due to some farmers abandoning strawberry cultivation for lack of profitability», explains Amine Bennani, President of the Moroccan Association of Red Fruit Producers (AMPFR). These farmers have opted instead for more profitable crops, such as potatoes or tomatoes.