Editorial
12 months and 27 days
Spain is experiencing a prolonged drought, as it is being called by the experts. 12 months and 27 days have passed since the last meeting on the 4th of March, 2022 of the Spanish National Drought Board, which was convened on the 19th of April of this year.
Profile of the month
The curious technologist
Miguel Ángel Gómez (Badajoz, 1971) is a trained chemist and has great curiosity about all fields related to technology. He has assembled and disassembled his Tesla more than five times and has personally installed the solar panels and batteries for his house.
latest news
Genetics that cross borders
The new campaign by Semillas Fitó goes beyond the sector’s usual image, to show that ‘Improving food is in our genes’
Google, Netflix, Tesla and water neutrality
For 2050, there is a forecast of a 40% increase in demand for water. Action must be taken. The need for funding is estimated at up to $ 600,000 million. The solution would involve desalination
events
Infoagro, the intensive farming trade fair
Infoagro Exhibition is the only European trade fair with over 32,000 hectares of greenhouses surrounding it
New installations for Ronda Fruits
The Catalan company has a total of 8,000 square metres of installations along the Longitudinal 5 of Mercabarna
asparagus
Loxa has become circular
Through the ‘Oleovaloriza Project’, which has won awards in Brussels, San Isidro de Loxa is reusing sub-products to fertilise its asparagus crops
“Our goal is to offer the best asparagus”
The cooperative Hortovilla is starting off the campaign by putting the spotlight on the good work and quality of its 184 associate farmers
Health status of European asparagus
The main producing countries analysed their evolution at the German show, Expo-Se
A key year for Los Gallombares
The cooperative is already working in the new building that it will officially open in September. A 10-million euro investment that will increase its operating capacity
Cosafra is reducing its water footprint by 80%
The cooperative has installed water recycling machinery to minimise water consumption on its 4 processing lines
CESURCA launches a line of frozen produce
From May onwards, they will market 150,000 kg of frozen asparagus tips using a sustainable, efficient production method
potato
Threats from outside the sector
The persistent drought and the CAP are threatening Andalusian early potatoes, and consequently, all Spanish potatoes.
Lázaro, unstoppable
In 2008, the company became the first 4.0 industry, and from that point onwards, its evolution has been constant. Today, it has put its sights on process innovation and sustainability.
Planting concluded in Castilla y León
The two speeds of potatoes in Spain coincide this month when Andalusia starts harvesting its first potatoes and Castilla y León, the largest producing region, closes its planting cycle.
Patatas Beltrán: “We will concentrate on valuing our brand”
The pioneer company in the Spanish potato production sector is unfolding a new business phase in which they will push for valuing their own brand, Patatas Beltrán.
Princesa Amandine grows by 40%
The ‘Princesa Amandine’ potato is still in a growth phase, and this campaign it will reach 7,000 tonnes.
The new potato cutter from Sormac
The new machine, which slices the tuber into halves and quarters, has greater capacity, needs less maintenance and obtains improved cutting results
“The world’s potato needs are very high”
Francisco Moya, Chairman of the French Fresh Potato Interprofessional Association (CNIPT), talked to Fruit Today about the sector’s main challenges, the implications of the important demand for processed potatoes and the drop in seed potato production.
Patatas Meléndez’s new factory has become a reality
Patatas Meléndez, a company from Valladolid that invoiced 110 million euros in 2022, has just made history in the fresh potato sector.
stone fruits
Frutas Torero has added 53 new hectares
The company from Abarán is starting the season off with 53 new hectares in stone fruit and grapes
Extra-early fruit at extreme risk
In the Region of Murcia, climate change is putting the earliest stone fruit productions on a razor’s edge
Ondine surpasses all expectations
Frutaria is supporting its stone fruit productions all over Spain and it is maintaining a categorical commitment to flat nectarines under the flagship of Ondine
business
SpicalUlti-Mite, efficient and cost-effective against red spider mite in citrus fruit
This sachet from Koppert is weather resistant, it releases over 600 predator mites, and it has a useful life of up to 12 weeks
melon and watermelon
“The costs must be passed on, or else”
At Pozo Sur they have not changed course, advocating passing on the 50% increase that has occurred in production costs to the prices.
“High prices could mean consumption may drop”
Agrícola Navarro de Haro forecasts harvesting 50,000 t of watermelons and is riding out the drought with new production areas.
“These prices are here to stay”
Many of the producers coincide in affirming that watermelons will say goodbye to their historically ridiculously low prices on the supermarket shelves.
Sensorisation project in Fashion
Fashion Watermelon is working with Basf on a project to democratise the use of sensors amongst its associates and to reduce water consumption to a minimum.
Melon House Fair is limbering up
Enza Zaden is preparing its annual event with important new developments that are making a difference thanks to flavour, resistances and their commitment to complete ‘All-Year Round’ programmes.
More watermelons at Coprohníjar
The cooperative has added 30 hectares of watermelons at the expense of tomatoes.
“We will defend out associates”
CASI foresees a start to the campaign with high prices due to the 18% rise in costs. A situation that is forcing these to be passed on in their marketing
New melons from Seminis
Bayer’s brand is extending its offer with Manchester and two varieties from the Cyro Line and Sugarlup ranges
A Bouquet watermelon campaign with new developments
Anecoop and its associate watermelon producers are now finalising the preparations for the commercial and marketing campaign that is about to start.
mercamadrid
“Service must be improved every day”
Providing good service has become one of the most important commercial prerequisites for wholesalers at Mercamadrid.
“The wholesale markets are necessary as another link in the supply chain”
In a context where large distribution has become more specialised, the wholesale markets are becoming increasingly expendable.
Cosarica campaign with a new brand image
The CMR Group is closing an excellent melon and watermelon overseas import campaign and is strengthening its Aurum brand in pre-ripened avocados and mangos.
Mercamadrid is moving forward, but not enough
In 2021, Mercamadrid maintained its marketing figures which, overall, reached 3,157,505 t of produce, but some essential questions regarding its future are still hanging in the balance.
13 million on the most extensive modernisation since its creation
On the 40 year anniversary of its birth, Mercamadrid has announced its greatest investment in refurbishments.
Frutas E. Sánchez: a categorical commitment to digitalisation
The Madrilenian company is experiencing an important internal restructuring with a significant investment in data digitalisation that will allow it, if possible, to become even more competitive in the future.
Cultivar continues to grow
The company has experienced a significant expansion within the organised distribution sector, and the Cultipalta project will have new premises in 2023.
seeds
Good prospects for Top Seeds
The seed company is promoting its latest varieties, Varane and Arkane, while preparing the launch of another new development in red California for early and medium cycles
Ingenyo F1, the latest from Vilmorin-Mikado
The new variety from its NyO range for the early segment incorporates resistances to nematodes and powdery mildew and it has a higher percentage of GG fruit than Nyobi F1 and Nyostar F1
New late cycles at Syngenta
The company is launching new California pepper references such as Jason, a very plastic, early material that maintains its consistency
Sakata is completing cycles with Moma
The latest from Sakata for late cycle completes the range that was started with Sibac (early) and Juma (medium).
Rijk Zwaan continues to reap triumphs
Sweet Palermo has won its fourth Flavour of the Year with the complete range, and in California pepper the company is launching Atabal RZ, with top resistance to powdery mildew.
Have peppers reached an impasse?
The profitability of produce such as cucumbers and production costs higher than ever before could cause an impasse in surface area for the next campaign.
New developments in the ION range
HM.CLAUSE is extending its California pepper range with resistance to powdery mildew and nematodes.
Barreiros, the Lamuyo resistant to powdery mildew
The new generation of Lamuyo peppers from Seminis with resistance to Lt is here.
Bayer making its debut with a new Marmande
In May they will present the variety, which has already caught the interest of producers and companies due to its versatility in the fields and the high quality of fruit with a traditional flavour.
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