The agricultural sector is showing, once again, its solidarity with society in this difficult time for Spain. Not only is it being altruistic by working at full capacity amid the state of alarm to ensure the supply of fresh products for both the Spanish and European populations, but it has also decided to help the most affected regions and front-line professionals by donating fruits and vegetables.
In Andalusia, provinces such as Cordoba or Almeria have already shipped the first volumes of fruit and vegetable products to the emergency hospital set up at the IFEMA facilities in Madrid, for the consumption of the professional and health personnel deployed in the center.
Cordoba-based companies and producers in the citrus sector of the Guadalquivir Valley, coordinated by Palmanaranja and Asaja Córdoba, have sent a “solidarity truck” to Madrid with 20,000 kilos of oranges.
Asaja got in touch with the Cordoba-based entity to discuss the possibility of making this shipment. The response was immediate and the goods were prepared in one day, so that they could reach their destination as soon as possible.
The president of Palmanaranja, Antonio Carmona, said that “we have not hesitated a minute before preparing this shipment, since it is necessary at this time that we all rise to the challenge and offer support with the resources we have. Although it is not much, there goes our contribution.”
A number of producers and companies in the province of Almería have also donated their products to the same IFEMA hospital, which is receiving COVID-19 patients and homeless people from the region.
Asaja Almería reported in a statement that it would be shipping "eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, cauliflower, peas, broccoli, zucchini, oranges, watermelon and papaya, all grown in the province."
These products have been donated both by individual producers, such as citrus producer Diego Castaño, and by companies, such as Hortamar, Eurosol, Tomasol and Agrícola Navarro de Haro. Since they are perishable products, a first shipment of 8 pallets has been planned with the aim of "avoiding food waste and ensuring that these are consumed in optimal conditions." In any case, companies and producers have shown their willingness to make any shipments that may be needed.
Moreover, Asaja Almería does not rule out the participation of more companies, since "the agricultural sector in Almería wants to show its solidarity."
Sources: www.asajacordoba.es, Efe / lavanguardia.com