The Councillor of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development of Andalusia, Carmen Ortiz, has reported that the growth of subtropical fruit exports in recent years is ... "A result of the work and effort of a whole sector."
According to the Councillor, foreign sales have quadrupled (+300%) in just a decade, with the value of avocado and mango exports exceeding 230 million Euro in 2016. The representative of the Andalusian Government explained that the biggest increase has been observed in the sale of mangoes, whose exports have increased sevenfold.
"This development ensures a promising future as long as we are able to take advantage of the strengths and face the threats that lie ahead." Carmen Ortiz has highlighted the potential of the province of Malaga as the main producer of these kinds of products in Europe, since it has more than 6,700 hectares devoted to avocados, 3,500 to mangoes, 300 to medlars and 160 to cherimoyas.
She stressed that the province is in a privileged location, "as the fruit can ripen for longer on the tree, resulting in products of higher quality and a reduced ecological footprint; characteristics which are highly appreciated by distributors and consumers." Moreover, she has also highlighted the province's strong network of business devoted to the marketing of tropical fruit.
The Councillor has warned that despite the success achieved "we must continue working to deal responsibly with the various challenges and threats that lie ahead." For instance, she stressed the need to manage the available water resources in an efficient and sustainable manner in order to generate wealth in the present without jeopardising the future of the sector.
She also recalled the need to make progress in processing to achieve greater added value, to promote organic and sustainable production, to diversify the crops and to aim to obtain distinctive quality labels and the establishment of specific quality standards.
Ortiz stressed that the sector has the support of the Government of Andalusia, which has implemented measures and instruments of great utility to promote research, innovation and knowledge transfer.
Source: Europa Press
