Some companies distinguish themselves from large-scale vegetable farming by focusing on minority crops like green and white asparagus. They can go even further by adopting organic and biodynamic practices, which are more challenging due to pests and climate change.
"We focus on growing and marketing organic and biodynamic fruits and vegetables, especially stone fruit, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, melon, and watermelon. Our specialty is green and white asparagus. Among Spain's large-scale crops, differentiation is crucial to our strategy. We are committed to green asparagus despite it requiring a lot of labor because no mechanization is used in this crop," stated Paco García, Biosphera's Technical Director.
© Lydia González
"We have about 100 hectares of green and white asparagus, with a harvest that goes from January until the end of April. We are the only ones left growing this crop in the area because, despite being a rustic crop that isn't threatened by many pests, growing it requires a lot of skill," García stated.
"We handle up to 500,000 kg annually. Asparagus is highly valued in Germany and Switzerland. Since it is a perennial crop, it requires a significant initial investment, but it's not replanted each year. The plants need yearly maintenance, but can sprout for up to 8 or 10 years," he added.
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"It is not a rainfed crop, but it must receive the right amount of water. It doesn't need much cold, but it requires light, sun, and high temperatures for the time they are being grown," he said.
"Overall, we have 800 hectares dedicated to summer and winter crops, primarily destined for Germany, Switzerland, France, and other countries. Stone fruit is our main strength, with an annual yield of around 6 million kilos," Garcia stated.
As is common in many growing companies, "we work for supermarkets and under a program. It's good to serve the markets, but not as a main client because there are too many challenges in agriculture to plant without knowing where we are going."
© Lydia González
"We only work with organic and biodynamic products. Restrictions are strict for organic farming, but they are even more restrictive for biodynamic methods. These crops are challenging to grow, but currently, they are profitable because they help differentiate our offerings and add value. Customers appreciate these sustainable techniques and recognize their premium worth," García concluded.
For more information:
Paco García
Technical Manager
Biosphera
Tel: +34 667 49 55 95
Email: [email protected]
www.biosphera.es
