Partners of +Brócoli are joining the team of Stowarzyszenie-promocji-brokula for three days with the aim of introducing them to the Spanish broccoli market, showing them how it is grown in Murcia, from where 90% of the production is exported; how it is stored and how it is presented in supermarkets.
In this way, they seek to "promote partnerships beyond our borders, encourage commercial and productive relations with the Polish entity and encourage, in this way, other European countries to create more sister associations around broccoli," said Luis Jimenez, president of +Brócoli.
The Polish association will visit the fields and warehouses of members of the Spanish entity, such as Grupo Lucas, Sakata Seed Iberica, Luis Jiménez SL, Deilor and Sacoje, as well as the broccoli seed plantations of Futurplant and retailers selling the product, namely Mercadona and Carrefour supermarkets in Lorca. They will tour production locations such as Lorca, Totana and El Raal, as well as some greenhouses in Almeria.
The producers will also have the opportunity to taste dishes containing broccoli in local restaurants such as Miras (Totana), La Mary (Murcia), Amat Soriano (La Mojonera, Almeria) and Pura Cepa (Murcia), as well as to visit the Roman Theatre of Cartagena.
Poland, Europe's second largest broccoli producer
Poland is the second largest European broccoli producer, quite a distance behind Spain, since it grows on some 8,000 hectares, while Spain has more than 40,000. Despite this, the crop's development there has been following very similar steps to those of Spain and both countries' productions complement one another. Poland produces between June and October, while Spain's export campaign peaks from November to May.
The awareness work of +Brócoli
The non-profit association +Brócoli aims to increase the consumption of broccoli and raise awareness about its health benefits. It brings producers, marketers, researchers, nutritionists and restaurateurs together, as well as any person or entity interested in promoting the benefits of this cruciferous vegetable, considered a super vegetable by the CEBAS-CSIC.