On Wednesday, Catalonia's declaration of independence was declared illegal by the Spanish Constitutional Court. In various Catalonian cities, thousands of protestors took to the streets on Wednesday to express their discontent about the situation. For Ad van der Staaij of Savasun, who left the parent company 30 years ago to grow outdoor vegetables in the Catalonian province of Tarragona, it was the first time he had seen the effects of the political unrest. “Fanatics blocked the roads with lorries, so that our cars stood still for four hours. Everything had to be stopped because of that. It all happened unannounced, so that the police couldn’t prevent it.”
According to Ad, the struggle for independence isn’t too much of an issue. “There are those in favour and those against it, but it’s not all that bad here. The older Catalans in particular are fanatical. It’s not much of an issue for younger people, even though they’re in the front row when there’s a bit of an uprising.” Personally, the grower would prefer things to stay as they are. “I think it would be best if they remained part of Spain. If Catalonia were to go it alone, you’d have to wait for new laws to be put in place. But I don’t expect the declaration of independence to last. It would require too much work. There’s not much export from this region, but Catalonia has a large hinterland, and the entire Spanish industry is located here. It just can’t become a separate state.”
Ad van der Staaij
Savasun grows products including cauliflower, spinach, (curled) endive, lollo rosso, lollo bionda, oak leaf lettuce (green and red), Chinese cabbage, fennel, kale, celery (for cutting plants), parsley (curled and leaf), beets, romanesco, green cauliflower, scallion, winter and spring leek, blanched celery (white and green), broad beans, green peas, potatoes and oxheart cabbage in Tarragona. During the summer months, the staff grow apples and pears. “Next week, the final apples and pears will be shipped, and the outdoor vegetable season has started again. This week we started supplying to cutting plants, and we’re still planting as well.”
For more information:
Ad van der Staay
Savasun S.A.
Finca Mas Damia S/N
43311 Vilanova Déscornalbou
Spain
T +34 9 77 83 74 32
F +34 9 77 83 70 94
bianca@savasun.es
www.savasun.es