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Spain, European Leader in Fruit and Vegetable Production

The fruit and vegetable sector is one of the most important industries for the Spanish economy. The import and export of these foods provide significant benefits to the country’s trade balance, establishing Spain as a European leader in production.

In the last five years, the fruit and vegetable market in Spain has continued to grow steadily up to the present day. Specifically, since 2019, it has increased by 28% in volume and 51% in value.

According to FEPEX, the Spanish Federation of Associations of Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters, last year horticultural exports decreased by 6% in volume. However, on the other hand, there was a 6% increase in value compared to the previous year, resulting in an overall positive balance. In total, 5.2 million tons were generated, amounting to 7,883 million euros.
 

The main products imported are potatoes, bananas, apples, oranges, and avocados. On the other hand, the most exported products are citrus fruits, with oranges being the leading food item in sales, followed by vegetables.

The three autonomous communities that produce and export the most fruits and vegetables are the same as in 2022: Andalusia, Valencia, and Murcia.

SAM Algeciras, a multimodal logistics company located in the hinterland of the port of Algeciras, deals with all types of perishable products. Moreover, since last January, it has expanded its quality certifications in this field, including new countries like Ecuador.

The evolution of the fruit and vegetable sector

Despite the improvement in overall figures, the effects of climate change – such as drought – are significantly impacting the production and quality of products. The so-called climate crisis has caused various inconveniences in the cultivation process, such as:

  • Diseases and pests: Temperature changes make food more susceptible to illness, leading to increased pesticide use. This results in a decrease in quality
  • Water use: Increased droughts make water less available for crop irrigation, making the process much more costly.
  • Seasonal changes: The distinctiveness of the different seasons is diminishing. The constant rise in temperatures means that foods which were previously only cultivable during specific seasons now face greater challenges in production.

Organic agriculture, a solution to the crisis.

To counteract the constant damage inflicted on the environment, techniques have been developed to combat it. In order to minimize the appearance of pests, organic farming is used, applying methods such as crop rotation or cover crops.

There are also methods to manage water use efficiently. Efficient irrigation is key in agriculture and primarily utilizes two resources: drip irrigation and micro-sprinklers.

Finally, to mitigate high temperatures, shading structures can be installed. This prevents direct sunlight from hitting the crops directly, helping them retain their properties.

For many businesses in the primary sector, all of this represents a significant effort. As perishable products, quality is often compromised during transportation, directly impacting import and export activities.

Therefore, companies like SAM Algeciras  meticulously take care of every detail. The company holds an ECOcertificacion (among others), ensuring complete safety and preservation of products.