The green asparagus harvesting campaign has already started for the 14 cooperatives in the Vega de Granada and Poniente associated with FAECA-Cooperativas Agroalimentarias de Granada. Just a few days ago, workers began to harvest the highly prized green asparagus from Granada on farms in Huétor Tájar, Loja, Montefrío, Láchar, and Villanueva Mesía, among other municipalities in the Vega de Granada area.
According to José Ángel Delgado, member of the cooperative Los Gallombares and asparagus sector representative at FAECA, "irrigation has been good this time. In the last two years we had been affected by severe drought, but this year, there has been enough rain to give the product a good shelf life, quality, and freshness. However, due to the cold, the season is starting later than expected, with a delay of two or three weeks compared to other years."
© FAECA Granada
A total of 35 million kilos are expected to be produced this year, which represents an estimated 10-15% growth compared to the previous year. With this, Granada is consolidating as a national and European leader in this crop's production. With 6,500 hectares, Granada accounts for more than 65% of the total area devoted to green asparagus in Spain and contributes around 60% of the national production.
The harvesting season gives a big boost to the economy and to employment in the Poniente and Vega de Granada regions and in the province in general, generating thousands of jobs and boosting economic activity throughout the entire value chain of the agri-food sector.
Another factor taking a toll on the season is the lack of labor. "Many growers are unable to harvest the produce for this reason and have been forced to seek alternatives, such as attracting labor from foreign countries or areas close to Granada in order to find workers," says Delgado. "The shortage of personnel is also noticeable in the warehouses," he says.
Green asparagus from Granada is highly valued in national and international markets for its flavor, texture, versatility in the kitchen, and excellent nutritional properties. Also, the sector is highly cooperative, with approximately 90% of the green asparagus produced in the province coming from cooperatives.
Meanwhile, the green asparagus season has also started in other Spanish provinces such as Malaga, Seville, Cadiz, Jaen, and Cordoba, as well as in other regions, such as Castile-La Mancha (especially in Guadalajara) and Extremadura. In total, more than 10,000 hectares are devoted to this crop in Spain.
For more information:
Cooperativas Agroalimentarias Granada
Tel.: +34 666 82 97 45
comunicacion@faecagranada.com
www.faecagranada.com