After just four editions, Fruit Attraction has become a benchmark both nationally and internationally. The fair continues to grow and to show the strength of Spain's fruit and vegetable producing and exporting sectors. Not surprisingly, Spain is the second largest horticultural producer and the largest European exporter, with a production of 25 million tonnes and exported produce during the first seven months of the year valued at 7,712 million Euro; a 5.9% increase compared to last year.
Arias Cañete, the president of Asprocan, Santiago Rodríguez (left), the general secretary for Agriculture, Isabel García Tejerina, and the general director of the Canarian Institute of Agri-food Quality, Sulbey González (right), at Fruit Attraction
Canary plantains to receive E.U. recognition
Plátano de Canarias hopes to receive the European Union's recognition in early 2013. Thanks to this seal of quality, the product, considered a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), growers will be able to receive European funding. The director of the Canarian Institute of Agri-food Quality, Sulbey González, stated that the product has already had national protection since May 2010. For his part, the president of the Association of Canary Plantain Producer Organizations (Asprocan), Santiago Rodríguez, said that he expects the year to finish with a production of 380 million kilos, 8.6% more than in 2011. Rodríguez believes that the production is still insufficient to meet peninsular demand, "which continues to be good" despite the recession.
Source: ABC