The Region of Murcia is Spain's largest table grape producer, with 5,700 hectares devoted to the crop and a production totalling 185,000 tonnes "and a great export quota both inside and outside the European Union," pointed out the general director of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Francisco José González, who last week visited the companies Frutas Esther, Frutas El Torero and Uniland.
During those visits, Francisco José González checked the development of the current export campaign and said that the region's table grape production is characterised "by a strong development terms of research, to which we must add that the controls carried out by the Spanish authorities are among the most comprehensive in the world, involving three administrative bodies."
Gonzalez stated that "in recent years, the opening of new markets with third countries has been possible thanks to the signing of bilateral agreements promoted by the association Apoexpa, the Region and the Mapama."
Trade with non-EU countries
As regards trade with non-EU countries, the general director pointed out that the most noteworthy exports are those going to Canada and South Africa. In 2016, more than 2,300 tonnes were exported from the Region in 178 maritime shipments made by 11 exporting companies from the Region of Murcia. "These shipments were characterised by the high quality of the production," he said.
As for the 2017 campaign, a total of 119 shipments have been made so far, with 1,500 tonnes exported by nine companies. According to forecasts, "the figures achieved in 2016 will be exceeded by the time the campaign comes to an end in November, as contacts are being made with the embassies to ship table grapes to the US and India," concluded the official.
Source: agronewscasteillayleon.com
