Spanish flooding

The recent flooding in Spain has been devastating with over 200 people being confirmed dead so far, and many more are still missing.  These types of storms, known locally as a Dana, frequently affect eastern Spain in autumn, and Valencia has faced them before. However, this season’s event has been the most severe in recent years.

An entire year’s worth of rain fell in just a few hours on Tuesday, overwhelming the region.  Thousands of hectares of farmland—a vital part of Spain’s fresh produce supply, including two-thirds of its citrus—were left submerged under the floodwaters.

The Valencian Agricultural Producers’ Association has already reported significant damage to crops across the region and in nearby Almeria and Andalusia. Key crops such as citrus, persimmons, and vegetables have been particularly hard-hit, with farmers facing extensive crop losses.

The full scope of the damage remains uncertain, as many rural areas and agricultural facilities, including greenhouses and packing plants, have been heavily impacted. Many farmers have not been able to assess their land due to inaccessible rural roads and damaged equipment. Officials are warning that goods from the region may be in short supply in the coming weeks.

Spain is a major supplier of fruits and vegetables to the UK and Europe. According to trade data, Britain alone accounts for 12% of Spain’s fresh produce exports and relies on Spain for 25% of its fruit and 8% of its vegetable imports.

Last year, droughts in the same part of eastern Spain led to produce shortages in the UK, making essentials like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers hard to find.

The tragic floods in Valencia highlight just how vulnerable our food supply is to increasingly extreme weather events and will clearly have an effect on availability and pricing moving forward.  We will wait to find out more in the coming week. Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the floods.