Producing organically significantly contributes to reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other phytosanitary products, and has a positive impact on the environment, biodiversity and our climate. Organic farming has therefore been identified as a key activity to promote in the EU, which annually recognizes the efforts and the value of European organic operators, rewarding excellent, innovative, sustainable and, above all, inspiring projects in the sector. This year, the Valencian company Saifresc is competing as a finalist in the "Best organic food retailer" category.
"Hortaval Natur, better known as Saifresc, was founded in 2012 by three partners; agricultural engineers and sons of agricultural producers from Valencia," says Julio Quilis, Saifresc's manager. "Until 2008, the three of us were working in a cooperative in the area that, due to financial issues, had to close, and it was then that we decided to launch the joint project that today is Saifresc, putting into practice all the experience we had gained not only from our work, but also from our parents. Our focus was thus on seasonal and organic production, and on selling our fresh, high-quality products on the local market."
"However, at the time, most of the consumption was already accounted for by supermarket chains. Traditional markets and local stores were seeing a drop in sales due to the switch to a retail model focused on price and convenience. For this reason, we carried out an exhaustive costs study in order to optimize our expenses and be able to offer the widest range of organic, seasonal and local products at the most affordable price possible, so that they would be accessible to all consumers."
"For 12 years now, we have had 25 hectares cultivated with traditional Valencian vegetables and 5 hectares devoted to citrus fruits, which we sell on demand on-line to private clients and to various Spanish organic food chains, as well as at the market we set up on the weekends at our facilities."
"We also work with other growers in the area to be able to offer a wider range of fruit and we have created a line of soups, creams and preserves which is allowing us to make the most out of the surplus production. These processed products are also sold under our own brand."
"With this economic model we are developing, we aim to show that it is possible to make a living from traditional, smallholding agriculture in Valencia, even though it is necessary to make an effort. The system has actually even been declared an Important System of World Agricultural Heritage by the FAO. At Saifresc, we are happy about being able to have a permanent workforce of 25 employees all year round for just 30 hectares of crops."
"Our figures are going back to pre-COVID levels"
The EU Organic Awards, jointly organized by the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions, COPA-COGECA and IFOAM Organics Europe, will be held on 23 September 2024, coinciding with the EU's Organic Day. Organic production and consumption continue to grow in the EU, despite the events that have shaken the continent in recent years.
"Looking back, before COVID, there was more awareness and more willingness to make the effort to spend extra on organic food, and we were growing year after year; however, during the pandemic itself, sales skyrocketed thanks to the local supply service we provided," says Julio. "However, we then got the economic crisis and inflation, which slowed consumption down a lot, and only since 2024 have we, once again, seen a growing trend for organic products. In fact, we could say that our figures are going back to pre-COVID levels."
It should be recalled that consumption is fundamental for the organic sector, which, as a whole, accounted for 16.9 million hectares in the EU in 2022, according to the latest data. The number of organic producers in the European Commission reached almost 344,000, and there are also more than 78,000 active organic processors.
"We are proud to have been selected as finalists in these awards from among the projects submitted from all over Europe. It gives us great satisfaction to see Saifresc's work recognized in these difficult times for small and medium-sized agricultural companies. We hope that this award will also motivate local public administrations to support the projects we have underway and promote healthy, local and organic food in collective catering, which should in turn help boost local agricultural activities."
For more information:
Saifresc
Camà del Mestre, 46470 Catarroja
Valencia, Spain
Tel.: +34 655 848 385
https://saifresc.es