Almeria's main products are tomato, zucchini, eggplant, pepper, and cucumber, but in order to stand out, it is necessary to specialize, and some companies have managed to move away from the usual schedules and varieties. Still, the challenges remain the same for all: Lack of water, extreme heat, and the consequent impact of pests. Some companies point to the behavior of large supermarket chains as the key factor making things more difficult for the grower.
"We have specialized in tomato and zucchini to be able to offer slightly different products and avoid some competition. Our main specialties are pink and beefsteak tomatoes, the latter very much appreciated in France. Despite the circumstances, we are harvesting some good-sized and tasty tomatoes of these varieties," says Manuel Sánchez, Manager of Tomafres.
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"Everything that used to be a specialty is becoming standard; it is very difficult to be competitive," says Sánchez. "In the summer, climate conditions are more extreme and cultivation is more complex. Now there's an incidence of pests and new viruses that have to be dealt with. On top of that, water is scarce, and its price is also an issue."
In the Nijar area, "well water is very saline and can only be used for short irrigations; if you need a lot of water, resources have to be combined. Looking at the prices, well water costs 45 cents/m³; water from desalination plants costs 79 cents/m³ and from other sources it costs 53 cents/m³. You have to combine several types of water in the plantations, and you also need a reservoir," says the manager.
"Purchasing centers are more restrictive than the European Union.
"Climate change is not helping, and we have seen watermelon and melon productions in Almeria, Murcia, and Seville overlapping. When La Mancha joined this list, disaster struck, and we have yet to overcome it. Melons have been sold at the source for 7 cents per kilo, a ruinous price for the growers; however, in the supermarket, those same melons have been sold for 2.20 euros per kilo," says Sánchez.
"I think retailers are making this job much more difficult, because when things get this complicated, all they do is try to make a bigger profit. If we growers had the courage to say no, things would be different, but we don't believe in our own power," he says.
"Pests are more aggressive, and the heat has a lot to do with it; moreover, with the drought, the plants become weaker. Temperatures are jumping from a minimum of 18°C to a maximum of 44°C, which is quite extreme for mid-September."
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Thrips did a lot of damage to pepper crops last season in Almeria. "This year, I think it's going to be worse. The Ministry of Agriculture is giving us up to 40 options of phytosanitary treatments to kill them off, but big supermarket chains are only allowing a few. Their rules are more restrictive than European Union regulations, which just shows you can't do agriculture from an office."
"I think the work of sellers is pointless if they are just going to accept what retailers tell them. AI could replace those jobs. A good salesperson has to stand behind their product, but if they are just going to accept what the supermarket's central purchasing department imposes on them, then an AI that handles orders is more than enough," says Sánchez.
Tomafres specializes in the production and marketing of tomato, zucchini, and eggplant for the premium sections of gourmet, national, and European supermarkets. It handles about 1 million kilos a year.
For more information:
Manuel Sánchez
Tomafres
Tel.: +34 637 74 07 61
[email protected]
www.tomafres.com