Harvest Season is about to start

Hey guys! May is here and expectations are on the rise: the harvest season is about to start!

Weather:

Harvest doesn't start at the same time everywhere; if there are rainy days, then the harvest can be postponed to June. The weather plays an important role because the bark (skin) of the tree must be as dry as possible to allow a perfect and healthy removal without being too stuck to the tree, which makes the task more difficult, less efficient, and can damage the tree.

Labor:

As happens in other sectors, there is a shortage of personnel everywhere, and this is no exception. It is very tough work; conditions are harsh under the sun and the 40ºC+ temperatures these regions face during summer. Added to that is the demanding effort of carrying an axe, climbing trees, holding heavy boards (flats) and rounds, and dealing with the insects and animals that interfere with the work. Harvest cannot happen without human labor; when there is no personnel, the cork remains on the trees. Furthermore, the wages paid to these men will reflect on the final cork price.

Quantity:

We don't know yet if this is a year of high or low production. This factor influences the final price due to supply and demand. It depends on the number of trees that meet the requirements for harvesting—in the case of this specific cork, the tree must reach a certain age, height, and diameter. It also depends on whether the areas being harvested have a high concentration of trees meeting these requirements, and if the weather allows for harvesting at the exact moment the teams are on-site.

Cork Industry in General:

Regarding natural cork stopper production—the most valuable product made from cork—the industry is facing difficult challenges. Global wine consumption is on a downward trend, motivated by everything from health consciousness to changing social habits and the rising cost of living, which leads people to spend less on non-essentials. There is also the competition from alternative closures, such as micro-agglomerated stoppers. This "butterfly effect" results in less demand for cork during the harvest season. Consequently, there is less motivation for landowners to engage in harvesting or to take on the costs and risks of removing cork that might not be sold. This also leads to fewer available workers, as the job becomes less appealing, ultimately affecting the harvest of cork types that aren't used in the transformation industry but are harvested at the same time.

General Picture:

The number of people dedicated to cork farming and the cork industry is a shadow of what it once was. Older generations have passed away or retired, and many companies have shut down because the business is no longer sustainable. Younger generations have not embraced this tradition, whether it's because future prospects aren't as bright as they once were or because they chose academic careers in other fields. There is less investment, fewer people, and less dedication each year, leaving every harvest filled with more uncertainty.