The summer vegetable season, which will last until November, has already started in inland Granada, Spain, where the cooperative El Grupo S.C.A., based in Castell de Ferro, has 90 hectares spread over the municipalities of Játar, Jayena, Zafarraya and Zújar.
"During the fall, winter and spring, our crops are grown in the greenhouses we have on the coast, both in Granada and Malaga, but in summer we switch to an inland production area, as the heat and the lack of a temperature difference between day and night prevent us from continuing to grow on the coast," says José Correa, head of El Grupo's technical department.
"We have been working for more than 20 years in the areas where we have production, and just like all the members of El Grupo, the producers in inland Granada have been making progress over the last few years and have managed to obtain products of the quality that is expected of us."
"Furthermore, this year we haven't had any problems and so far our production forecasts are in line with our initial plans. You have to bear in mind that in this area we grow in the open ground, without greenhouses, and we are more exposed to heat waves, storms and the cold. Last year, for instance, it snowed in April, when the crops had just been sown," says José. "Temperatures this year have been very moderate, so we are expecting great stability for all our products."
El Grupo focuses its summer production on Italian and Padron type peppers, cucumbers, green and white zucchini and green beans, "although tomatoes are our flagship product. We grow baby plum, round cherry and black baby plum varieties, which we sell on the domestic and export markets."
"Inland Granada is, in fact, very important not only for us, but also for the many cooperatives and wholesalers in the region, because it allows us to keep the production and quality stable all year round, which is something that more and more customers are demanding," says José. "In fact, year after year our acreage continues to expand both on the coast and here in the inland part of the province of Granada."
For more information:
Grupo S.C.A.
Rambla de Hileros, s/n 18740
Castell de Ferro, Granada - Spain
[email protected]
https://elgrupo-sca.com