One of the citrus partners of Anecoop, Soex 2, has opened a new warehouse in the municipality of Xilxes, in the Spanish province of Castellon. The facilities were originally acquired with the absorption of the La Junquera cooperative and 750,000 Euro have been invested in their refurbishment. The inauguration was attended by the Councilor of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mireia Mollà.
Currently, Soex 2 (Society for the Export of Citrus Fruit No. 2) brings almost 300 producers together (between partners and associates) and has a production exceeding 8,000 tons. Headquartered in Moncofa, it has 200 employees and, since its foundation, the main destination of its citrus has been the European market. It exports 90% of the volume sold.
From its beginnings to the present, its main activity has been the harvest and handling of citrus fruits, namely clementines, mandarins and oranges. Its specialty is the Clemenules, a native variety of the area. In the new 3,700 m² facilities, Soex 2 will continue its activity with the handling of citrus varieties, 90% of which are clementines. To this end, the cooperative will have two production lines, a precooling chamber, three greening chambers and a preservation chamber.
Soex 2 was set up in February 1964, when a group of 22 agricultural producers gathered after enduring some frosts in Moncofa, with the intention of creating a cooperative that would facilitate the marketing of their citrus fruits. In 2000, Soex absorbed the Sonam-1 cooperative and last year, it formalized the absorption of another cooperative, La Junquera, from the town of Xilxes.
The opening of the new warehouse entails the moving of its headquarters from Moncofa to Xilxes. As stated by the president of Soex 2, Manuel Torres, “the improvements in the facilities, together with our integration in Anecoop, which dates back to 1999, will allow us to face the difficult citrus campaign that the sector is going through with the certainty of increasing our efficiency levels and continuing to ensure profitable prices for our partners. The financial viability of Soex, now in Xilxes, is the best formula to protect the territory and dignify our agriculture."
For more information:
Soex 2 (Sociedad de Exportación de Agrios Nº 2)
Carrer de Castelló, 2012593 Moncofa, Castellon. Spain
Tel. 964580499 / 964579030
soexdos@telefonica.net