The harvest of Granada's first organic Kent mangoes is expected for October and that of the Keitt for early November.
"This year, the heat waves in late March and mid-April, followed by a drop in temperatures, caused the flowering to be shorter than usual, so we expect a slight reduction of the avocado production. For mangoes, however, it seems that we are going to have a somewhat larger production, although anything could still happen," explains Pepe Álvarez, producer and marketer specialised in organic avocados.
"We are increasingly expanding our avocado and mango acreage. The popularity of subtropical fruits is on the rise all over the world. This year we have planted 2,500 mango plants and 4,000 Hass avocado plants. Meanwhile, our partnered producers are also expanding their acreage, mostly thanks to the fact that we are offering all our producers a membership to a fruit and vegetable producers organization entitled to subsidies from European funds, which can be used for the improvement of farms and facilities, thus allowing them to have better products and be more competitive."
Keitt, a mango with a better commercial window
According to the specialist, unlike avocados, "mangoes suffer the handicap of being more perishable in the tree, so they have to be harvested when they are ripe. For that reason, given the large surfaces that have been planted in the south of Spain, especially in Malaga, we hope that there won't be any market saturation problems in the future, since 90% corresponds to a single variety: the Osteen, which producers have chosen for its high productivity and flavour."
For this reason, Bio-Procam is betting on the Keitt variety, as it has an attractive commercial window compared to the Osteen. "Producers in Malaga grow Osteen mangoes focusing on the months of September and October for their sale. We are betting on the Keitt, which arrives later and in a usually less saturated market. It's a very sweet mango and easy to work with."
Bio-Procam was created in 1983 with the union of several growers in Granada specialised in subtropical fruits, although later more producers were introduced, with new products like Dutch cucumbers and tomatoes. In 2007, in order to reach new customers and new markets, we decided to differentiate ourselves from the rest of the region's producers, transforming our entire production chain into an organic one, from field to the facilities.
New image, wider product range and modern facilities
Bio-Procam has had photovoltaic plates on its roof since 2008, allowing for the entire handling process to be carried out with clean solar energy.
Nowadays, some areas of the company have been modernised, starting with their image, as they are launching a new logo and have made changes to the outer appearance of the facilities to make them much more attractive and in keeping with these times.
Also worth noting is the expansion of its work areas in southern and central Spain, which has allowed it to increase its product range.
"In Malaga and Cadiz, we have expanded our production of avocados and mangoes, as well as of citrus fruits, such as lemons and limes. In Castile-la Mancha, we have expanded with pumpkins and other products. But it is especially in Almeria where the number of producers working with us is growing the most, since we have a branch and collection point in Campo de Níjar, where we work with producers of Dutch cucumbers, tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, aubergines, etc."
Also worthy of note is the modernisation of the processing and packaging lines, or the integral advice provided in the fields by specialised technicians. "After 10 years in the Bio market, we may be the most experienced marketer in the area, from the handling of agricultural techniques to the processing and handling of the product and its subsequent sale," highlights Pepe Álvarez.
For more information:
Pepe Álvarez
Bio Procam SCA
+34 615686029
pepe.alvarez.moyano@gmail.com
http://www.procamsca.com/
Eduardo Maldonado
Contact in Almeria
+34 636298957