United front of winegrowers against "abusive" grape purchase prices
The sector estimates to receive €0.3 per kilo, almost half of the reference production cost
BarcelonaThe main wine-growing organizations in the country are joining forces against the "abusive" purchase prices expected for this year's harvest. In a joint statement collected this Thursday by Unió de Pagesos, the associations denounce that the compensations being discussed in the sector by large wineries such as Jaume Serra and other producers, like Celler Can Pagès or Vins Font, are around 0.3 euros per kilogram of grapes, a figure that is less than half the reference production cost of between 0.53 and 0.56 euros per kilo established by the Institut Català de la Vinya i el Vi (Incavi).
The agricultural organizations describe the situation as "worrying" and also warn that formulas are being considered that could further mask the real price perceived by the producer. Thus, they assure that, in some cases, only 70% of the grapes would be paid at the advertised price, while the remaining 30% could be paid at 0.12 euros per kilo.
Should these figures be confirmed, the associations consider that this "would mean once again placing the economic and commercial tensions of the sector on the winegrower". In the same statement, the organizations point in particular to the designation of origin (DO) Cava –Jaume Serra belongs to it, for example–, which last week assured that it would maintain the price of grapes based on an initial estimate.
"While there is repeated talk of sustainability, future, and prestige of the wine sector linked to the DO Cava, some of the first prices circulating are well below the reference production costs," they indicate. In this regard, they emphasize that this year's harvest could mark "a turning point" for the future of the sector, after a context marked by drought and the implementation of improvements in agricultural activity. "For years, winegrowers have been asked for professionalization, quality, sustainability, investments, adaptation to climate change, and commitment to the territory. But all of this is incompatible with paying grapes below their production cost," they argue.
In this regard, they demand that wineries and large buyers "rectify" and "align themselves with the territory, the farmers, and defend a fair model for everyone". "We hope that the initial prices will not be final and we call for responsibility from all buyers before they make public their purchase conditions for this harvest," they summarize.
No mobilizations in sight
In statements to ARA, Josep Marrugat, a member of the Unió de Pagesos executive committee for vineyards and wine, has acknowledged that calling for mobilizations in the middle of the grape harvest is "complicated" despite the gravity of the situation. While he indicates that the publication of prices usually occurs at the "last minute" with little room for reaction, he also admits that the sector "did not expect this disaster".
However, from Unió de Pagesos, they emphasize that the producing sector is "united" and will not allow a future for vineyards to be built "at the cost of the ruin of those who cultivate them".
Besides Unió de Pagesos, the other organizations denouncing the situation are the Association of Penedès Winegrowers, Asaja, the Farmers' Guild, and the Federation of Agrarian Cooperatives of Catalonia, along with the Association of Winegrowers of Requena and the Community of Farmers and Ranchers of Almendralejo.
