Within the framework of the press trip organized by the World Avocado Organization (WAO) in Malaga, FreshPlaza had the opportunity to visit the facilities of Trops, one of the two companies that are part of this organization. 
The Trops cooperative has more than 2,500 producing partners in Spain and Portugal and an avocado production amounting to around 18,000 tons. This makes it the largest growing company in Spain, with around 40% of the total national production, which is three times more than the volume of the second largest Spanish avocado producer.
Its plantations (more than 1,800) are located in various producing areas in Spain, such as Malaga, Granada, Valencia and Cadiz, as well as in Portugal, where it already controls 1,500 hectares of crops run by 80% of the country's mango and avocado producers. In November, they expect to inaugurate new 4,000 square metre facilities in Tavira, thanks to which they will be marketing between 10,000 and 15,000 tons of Portuguese fruit.
Enrique Colilles, manager of Trops.
The Spanish Hass avocado season runs from November to May, so during the rest of the year, avocados from Peru and Chile are imported. "We import around 30% of the total volume that we market to be able to continue supplying our most loyal customers, especially in France, Spain and Portugal. We love working with French wholesalers, who appreciate good quality fruit and pay fair prices for it," explains its manager, Enrique Colilles.
According to the manager of Trops, the population of La Axarquia, in Malaga, is increasing due to subtropical fruit cultivation, since the sector offers employment all year round. "While rural areas are being abandoned in most of Spain in favor of the big cities, the opposite is happening in La AxarquÃa," he says. "The agricultural producers in this area own an average of 2.5 hectares each, which generates an average income of between 25,000 and 30,000 Euro per year."
In addition to the promotion of avocado consumption that will be carried out this year in Spain through the WAO, and which is funded by the companies that are part of it, Trops has already announced that it will also launch a huge TV campaign this year in order to promote mango consumption in the country.
"It is worth recalling that Spain's mango production has grown a lot in recent years, and that the current volume, which stands at around 30,000 tons, is going to double in the coming campaigns." There are still many Spaniards who are not familiar with the product or know that it is produced in our country. The same goes for avocados, for which we hope to increase the per capita consumption in Spain through the WAO," says Enrique Colilles.
With the Spanish avocado campaign in full swing, around 250,000 kilos of the fruit arrive daily at the Trops plant, and during the Spanish mango season, it handles some 400,000 kilos. The company has more than 1,200 product references, depending on the packaging, quality and sizes and formats.
The company has implemented a full digitalization in its management and control of the productions of its partners, who already have access to an application where they can control the progress of their crops.
Tests are carried out constantly at the quality department
Furthermore, the cooperative's philosophy is to grow in a sustainable way, and to this end, it already has solar panel installations, which provide 30% of its energy. It also makes practically zero use of products that are harmful to the environment and aims for the gradual reduction of plastic use. This year, it has managed to reduce the use of this material by 30%.
For more information:
Enrique Colilles
TROPS
T: +34 952500462
e.colilles@trops.es
www.trops.es