EDITORIAL
Marked by war
We are heading into summer campaigns marked by a sharp increase in costs, which could further strain the entire agri-food chain
PROFILE OF THE MONTH
José Navarro: A transparent man
We are in the district of Palomares (Cuevas de Almanzora), a village unknown to the world until January 1966, when two American bombers carrying nuclear bombs collided overhead
EVENTS
Murcia to exceed 105,000 tonnes of artichokes this year
The Region of Murcia strengthens its position as Spain’s leading artichoke production and export hub amid sustained crop growth
Anecoop celebrates its 50th anniversary
More than 850 guests attended the celebration, highlighting the role of people as the cornerstone of the cooperative’s success over five decades
Expolevante-Níjar, the edition with the highest number of European companies
The 17th edition of the Almería agricultural fair will take place on 22, 23 and 24 April in Campohermoso
Macfrut 2026: record figures and a global focus
The 43rd edition of the Italian trade fair will feature 1,400 exhibitors, 800 international buyers and the Caribbean as its geographic focus
POTATO
Patatas Beltrán: “we will build a brand at all costs”
A commitment to differentiation and strong branding has been a constant at Patatas Beltrán
Patatas Córdoba: “It could be a year of opportunities”
The 2026 potato campaign is shaping up as an unknown for the sector, but also as a potential opportunity. This is how Fernando Córdoba, director of Patatas Córdoba, sees the start of the season—approaching it with caution, yet not ruling out a favourable scenario
Fresh potato consumption falls by more than 4.5 kg over 10 years
Traditional products of the Mediterranean diet have been losing relevance in recent years, and fresh potatoes are no exception, with a steady decline in per capita consumption that has accelerated since the end of the pandemic
Potato: acreage adjustment in 2026?
The overall reduction in potato acreage this season could reach 20% across Spain
The strength of imports
Potato imports represent a cumulative volume that, when combined with production surpluses in Spain, creates an imbalance between supply and demand
Meléndez strengthens its alliance with growers and advances its European expansion
Patatas Meléndez will maintain a planting area similar to last year, supported by a model based on contracts with growers and away from the open market
Ibérica de Patatas adds a new storage facility
Alongside significant technological innovation, the Madrid-based company has acquired a new refrigerated space dedicated exclusively to potato storage
Alarm bells for Mallorca’s potato sector
Between phytosanitary restrictions, rising costs and a lack of generational renewal, potato cultivation in Mallorca is going through a critical moment
Agrigenio™ Potato, BASF’s digital model for crop improvement
In a context of disease pressure, water scarcity and increasing market demands, technology is emerging as a key ally for growers
Amutio: “our crops are of high quality and ahead of schedule”
The plantations that Amutio maintains in the Campo de Cartagena are performing particularly well this season
Patatas Lázaro: The Third Industrial Revolution
Lázaro makes its biggest technological commitment by combining field expertise with the intelligence of the future
MERCAMADRID
Cultivar: “Non-EU customers are gaining prominence”
Fruit Today magazine interviewed Sandra Sitjar, company executive, who spoke about the growing presence of non-EU customers in wholesale market floor sales and how the company is strengthening its banana business
“We are living through a period of uncertainty”
In a context marked by price pressure, geopolitical uncertainty and rising logistics costs, the fruit and vegetable trade is going through a particularly demanding phase
“Our Golden apples only come from the northern hemisphere”
Fruit Today Magazine spoke with Ernesto Sánchez Jr., executive director of the company, about the evolution of the apple campaign and other categories handled by the Madrid-based firm
“The sector must adapt to a new market reality”
The future of Mercamadrid is a concern for a significant share of the companies operating within the market as well as for all suppliers linked to the food hub
ASOMAFRUT works to ensure continuity beyond 2032
Mercamadrid has entered a new institutional phase after becoming a fully public entity under the Madrid City Council, marking a shift to a direct management model with no time limit, removing the previous expiry horizon set for 2032
Mercamadrid reached 2 million tonnes in 2025
Mercamadrid achieved a record figure of 2 million tonnes of fruit and vegetable trade. Fruit Today spoke with the organisation’s communications department, which highlighted the importance of this wholesale market within the European context
“Fruit and vegetable consumption continues to decline”
Luis Pacheco, the well-known trader and media personality featured on various television and radio programmes, says that in the face of stagnant consumption, society is doing little or nothing to remedy the situation
DISTRIBUTION
Carrefour markets 400 million kilos of Spanish fruit and vegetables
Carrefour consolidates its position in Spain as a key driver of the agri-food sector in the marketing of fruit and vegetables
Consum puts people at the centre of its new stores
The cooperative focuses on service personalisation and makes a strong commitment to AI and robotics
Mercadona invests in its new Store 9 model
Mercadona will invest €3.7 billion over the coming years to transform its supermarkets into the Store 9 model
Whole Foods Market to double its store network in the UK
The new locations represent the international expansion of the retailer’s Daily Shop format
MELON & WATERMELON
Agrobío anticipates aphid control with a comprehensive preventive strategy
It combines parasitoids such as A. colemani with predators such as Aphidoletes (APHIDOcontrol), lacewings (CHRYSOcontrol), hoverflies and ladybirds
BASF | Nunhems fine-tunes its melon and watermelon portfolio
Specialisation and flavour set the tone across both categories
Bayer Seminis focuses on watermelon and fresh-cut
The company strengthens its commitment to convenience and processing while consolidating its varietal portfolio with Lunalinda, Polinesia and new melon developments
Senegal, a strategic origin for counter-season supply
SAT AgroAlmanzora approaches the origin transition in watermelon with positive results after closing the Senegal counter-season campaign, which, according to Luis Candil, delivered highly satisfactory outcomes
Fashion: “The Wall Street of watermelon”
Joaquín Hidalgo, General Coordinator of Grupo AGF, analyses the start of the 2026 campaign ahead of its 25th anniversary
Almería could exceed 10,000 hectares of watermelon
The campaign starts under climate pressure, with delays in early cycles and expected normalisation in May
Los Crespos produces 13 million watermelon plants
The Almería-based nursery records 10–15% growth compared to the previous year and consolidates its expansion in Portugal
Agrícola Navarro de Haro invests €12 million in new facility
The Almería-based company accelerates its transformation with one of the biggest challenges in its history
ASPARAGUS
Cesurca: “initial challenges, but positive outlook”
Although flooding caused localised damage—severe in 5–6% of the area—the overall balance will be positive in both growth and quality
Los Gallombares expects to exceed 10 million kilos of national green asparagus
The Granada-based cooperative focuses on La Joya, Luxe and Luxor as benchmarks of premium quality and strengthens its commitment to versatile formats, sustainability from the origin and expanded supply
SEEDS
HM.Clause expands its ION range with Sulis F1
The late-cycle variety combines high resistance to powdery mildew, open plant architecture and large-calibre fruits in a portfolio that also strengthens short and mid-cycle segments
BASF | Nunhems: new solutions with HR against ToBRFV
The company brings its tomato genetics closer to key production areas
Rijk Zwaan: “High resistance in tomatoes without compromising other attributes”
The seed company expands its commercial portfolio with varieties featuring high resistance to ToBRFV while maintaining yield, quality and flavour
Bayer strengthens its leadership in autumn lamuyo peppers
Bultaco has established itself as Bayer’s flagship variety, soon to be joined by a new material in the same segment incorporating resistance to powdery mildew and nematodes
Strong expectations for tomatoes at Bayer Seminis
The company expands its tomato portfolio with its first export plum variety, Peramy, along with new high-performance varieties and rootstocks
Syngenta adds two ND references and targets early autumn
The company’s ND Protected zucchini portfolio now includes seven varieties following a winter campaign marked by strong grower profitability
Syngenta drives the re-evolution of late California peppers
The company consolidates six years of leadership in the most demanding segment with the launch of Spartanos in red and Cintra in yellow
Turing strengthens Vilmorin-Mikado’s leadership in yellow California peppers
With this addition, the company completes a yellow California pepper range covering the entire cycle, from May to late July
