In 2016, fresh asparagus exports from Andalusia exceeded 10,000 tonnes; a volume that represents 60% of the total marketed by Spain overseas during that year and whose value amounted to more than 34 million Euro. The Councillor of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development has praised this international orientation of the Andalusian production, which is grown in all provinces of the region. Carmen Ortiz has encouraged producers to "meet the challenges of a global market," in reference to the growing demand for this product in Europe, explaining that in Germany, for example, asparagus consumption amounts to 1.5 kilos per person at year.
The main destination for these international sales is the German market, which with almost 17.8 million Euro accounts for more than half of the total value (51.8%) achieved in 2016. In second place is France (23.2%), with exports worth close to 8 million Euro, followed by Switzerland, with 1.9 million Euro (5.8%), Denmark (3.6%) and Italy (3.5%). In the latter two cases, transactions were made worth just over 1.2 million Euro.
Carmen Ortiz inaugurated the 5th Asparagus Fair of Alcalá del Valle, Cadiz, which was held until Sunday 9 April and which has served to "showcase an excellent and nutritious product that is part of our diet." The Councillor has highlighted the healthy nature of asparagus because of its high content of vitamins, zinc, folic acid and fibre, and has stated that this food "contributes significantly to enrich the Andalusian gastronomy," both from the point of view of the taste and of the nutritional content.
The program of activities of the fair included, among other actions, gastronomic tastings and the organization of an agro-food and craft market.
SCA Europeos
Before the opening of the fair, the Councillor met with representatives of the SCA Europeos. This cooperative was founded in 1986 to market cereals and later expanded its activity to other sectors, such as olive oil and the handling and sale of green asparagus.
SCA Europeos has over 700 partners, whose total turnover amounts to 6 million Euro per year. Among other foods, it produces 5,000 tonnes of cereals and more than 1,200 kilos of olive oil. As for asparagus, 470 cooperatives cultivate about 300 hectares that yield half a thousand tonnes worth 900,000 Euro.
Carmen Ortiz has praised "the wise step" taken by this cooperative in partnering with Unica Group for the joint marketing of their products, since this entity is "one of the main operators of the market." Unica Group exports more than 270,000 tonnes of fresh vegetables a year.
Source: Europa Press
