Algarve citrus producers warn “stolen oranges” sold along EN125 may not be safe to eat

Several citrus producers in the municipality of Silves in the Algarve are reporting a sharp increase in orange thefts, with some claiming losses of several tonnes of fruit worth tens of thousands of euros.

Many of these stolen oranges end up being sold in roadside stalls along the EN125, with producers warning they may not be fit for consumtpion.

Farmers say the problem has worsened in recent weeks as the summer season brings more visitors to the Algarve, creating greater demand for roadside fruit sales along the EN125.

Among those affected is Nuno Evangelista, whose family owns the agricultural company Parafrutas. Speaking to Correio da Manhã, he estimated that around 20 tonnes of oranges have been stolen from one of the company’s orchards in recent weeks.

“At current market prices, and considering these oranges are being exported to Europe, we estimate losses of around €20,000,” he said.

While producers say occasional thefts have occurred since the start of the 2025/26 citrus season, many believe the situation is now escalating.

“In the past week it has become excessive,” said Bruno Januário, a supervisor at Parafrutas. “In just eight days we caught six people stealing from our properties.”

According to growers, the thefts are often carried out by organised groups that subsequently sell the fruit through informal roadside stalls, many of them located along the EN125, the national road that runs across the Algarve.

Beyond the financial impact, producers are warning of potential risks to consumers purchasing oranges from unregulated sellers.

Januário said some of the fruit offered for sale may have been treated less than 24 hours earlier, meaning it could still contain residues from agricultural products. He argued that greater enforcement is needed not only to tackle theft and tax evasion, but also to protect public health.

Local producer Pedro Cabrita, who grows citrus fruit, vegetables and nuts in the Silves area, said he faces similar problems every year.

“At this time of year, they don’t just steal oranges, they also take nuts,” he said. “The losses are enormous and it is very difficult to combat this problem.”

The growing concern has prompted action from the regional farming sector. The Algarve’s Regional Agriculture Federation is expected to meet with security forces and other authorities in the coming days to discuss possible measures.

The GNR police told Correio da Manhã it had received only two complaints relating to citrus thefts in the past month. One of those cases, reported last week in Algoz, resulted in the arrest of a suspect.

However, many incidents go unreported, meaning the true scale of the problem may be significantly higher than official figures suggest.

Source: Correio da Manhã