The drought has become one of the most worrying current topics because it means that there is a shortage of produce and it is causing apprehension in the sector. Juan Marín, General Manager of Campo de Lorca (Cricket), confirms this point of view. “In our case, it is a question that we are used to living with, as in spite of being located in the best area there is for producing within the warm areas that form part of the ‘Guadalentín’, a zone that is privileged due to its soil, climate and excellent water flow, it is not enough to guarantee the supply for our clients. Over the past two years, unfortunately, we have had to start up a relocation process. This has been carried out by our experienced technical team, which has sought out the best land with a guaranteed water supply, in such a way that we can continue to produce our vegetables with the excellence that characterises our company, as well as maintaining our productivity.”
With the Cricket brand’s philosophy, people, water and the land are the determining factors that they look after and care for in order to be able to continue growing, creating bases to carry on working towards a farming practice with a future. The complicated search for these uncultivated lands for their production has led them to put even more value, if possible, on one of the key elements: the land. This year, they wanted it to be one of the most visual elements on the stand at Fruit Attraction, to emphasise the importance and value given to the land and the different production areas, which allow them to produce 365 days a year. “We have managed this thanks to the different locations, micro-climates and altitudes where our farms can be found. Today we are no longer only present in the Region of Murcia, we are also in Andalusia, Castilla La Mancha and Extremadura.”
Produce and volumes
In this campaign, the company is maintaining its volumes and products from the previous year with broccoli, cauliflowers, artichokes, kale, flat and curly cabbages and Bimi.
The bio segment, where they currently have broccoli and cauliflower, will increase. “Our clients are asking for this. We will maintain +10% per year, a growth that we have consolidated over the past three years.”
Likewise, Cricket continues promoting the creation of new products from its innovation department, with brassicas as the main element, and that will be presented during Fruit Attraction. “We are coming to the fair with great enthusiasm and optimism, with projects and new challenges in different areas. It is an essential meeting point to pool our topics with our national and international clients, after an incredibly complicated year, marked by the drought, rampant inflation and with a second excessively hot summer, which has reduced the plantations and fewer kilos per hectare, making the supply more difficult.”
Sustainability and the environment
In 2023, the company has added Leaf, Spring and Biodiversity certificates, as well as the annual water footprint and carbon footprint studies, establishing short, medium and long term targets to reduce emissions.
In addition, the Green Manners action plan is entering the home stretch. This plan is being used to implement instruments and strategies to improve the environmental, social and economic conditions integrating the SDGs. Actions to improve water efficiency, an increase in the use of renewable energies and the extension of new farms from the ‘Baydiversity’ project for improving the biodiversity, stand out in particular.
