Marked by low prices, the current Spanish onion season has been challenging. Persistent rains in the last few weeks have delayed the early harvests and the transplanting of mid-season and late varieties for the next harvests. The plantations are being closely monitored to prevent diseases caused by excess moisture.
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"The current onion season has been one of challenges and satisfactions. We've had to deal with insufficient prices, especially for early and Medio Grano onions, which has been a challenge for the sector in general," says Ana Isabel Alarcón, CEO of TJ Agricultura.
"Despite these difficulties, we are very happy to have started packing and supplying our products to supermarkets, thus strengthening our presence in the domestic market. Moreover, our experiences with overseas exports have been very positive, and this has encouraged us to continue expanding our international presence," says Ana Isabel.
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TJ Agricultura produces around 30 million kilos of onions per year on 350 hectares, so it is one of the leading growers in Europe and one of the main suppliers for distribution chains worldwide. It grows several onion varieties, which are delivered in various packaging formats, such as nets, sacks, and boxes.
"We own more than 4,000 hectares of land, and this allows us to keep every stage of the production process under control, from farm to fork, guaranteeing the quality that defines us. In fact, we produce 100% of the onions we sell; a key factor that allows us to monitor the crop cycle and ensure the excellence of the final product," says the CEO of TJ Agricultura.
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"We export our onions all over the world, and we have positioned ourselves as one of the main suppliers for distribution chains and markets worldwide," says Ana Isabel. "Our strategic location, less than two hours from Madrid and the Port of Valencia, together with our own fleet of trucks and our collaboration with the main transport companies, allows us to guarantee the best handling and delivery of our products, regardless of the volume or destination of the goods."
The constant rains in many parts of the Iberian Peninsula are causing some delays in transplanting and leading the sector to fear for the quality of future crops. "Given the current situation of our crops for the new season, the utmost attention and care are going to be needed. We are working intensively to prevent the spread of fungal diseases caused by excess moisture in early varieties, a challenge we are facing with determination and experience," says Ana Isabel Alarcón.
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"Fortunately, all the sowing of Medio Grano and of the main crop is underway, and we are expecting to be able to move on to weed control, a crucial step to ensure the optimum development of our crops," she says. "We are also waiting for the soil to be in optimum condition before we start transplanting the chives of Grano varieties. This process, which requires precision and knowledge, is fundamental to guarantee the quality and yield of our future crops."
The farms of this company from La Mancha are located in the heart of La Mancha, between Cuenca and Albacete, where they benefit from exceptional altitude, weather, and soil conditions. "This is also the area where the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) 'Cebolla de la Mancha' is produced, a quality seal that makes us very proud," says Ana Isabel.
"We aim to do our very best in every step of the production process. This begins with the selection of the best seeds, the control of cultivation techniques, the choice of fertilizers, and the coordination of crop rotation. All this is done to guarantee product traceability and, above all, food safety," says Ana Isabel Alarcón.
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TJ Agricultura has managed to combine tradition with modernization, with more than 20,000 m² of facilities equipped with innovative machinery. This season, they have started using their three onion-peeling lines. "This investment is allowing us to make better use of the by-products and offer even better quality to our clients," says Alarcón.
"Regarding the future, we are very happy and excited, and determined to continue investing in the coming years in the expansion of cold storage, optical sorters for external and internal quality and the adoption of drones for field treatments," says the CEO of TJ Agricultura.
© Tj AgriculturaFor more information:Ana Isabel Alarcón
TJ Agriculture
Ctra. CM-220 Albacete - Cuenca, km. 60,
16230 Villanueva de la Jara, Cuenca. Spain
Tel.: +34 967 49 67 01
aia@tjagricultura.com
www.tjagricultura.com
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