Murcia: over 5,700 hectareas devoted to melon production

Region of Murcia vegetable exports increase by 11%

Germany consumes one of every three vegetables that Murcia sells abroad, importing 301,543 tonnes of vegetable produce between January and October 2008.

The regional sector aims to carry on growing and to do so it has set its sights on the Eastern European countries, to which it already destines significant volumes of its vegetable production.

Tradition and innovation go hand in hand in vegetable farming in the Region of Murcia, which has found that the excellent food quality and safety of its produce are the best tools with which to conquer international markets, the main consumers of vegetables grown in the Region.

Hence, over the first ten months last year, the Region of Murcia exported a total of 869,770 tonnes of vegetable produce to its various markets, which represents a 11,4% increase over figures for the same period 2007, in which foreign markets consumed 780,694 tonnes of Murcian vegetables.

European Union countries are the main buyers of the Region’s vegetable produce. More specifically, the list of countries receiving our vegetables is headed by the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Italy; these five accounting for 80% of the Region’s vegetable exports overall.

Despite proximity and tradition making these countries the principal consumer of Murcian vegetables, the endeavour and dynamism of the region’s producer-marketer sector are adding new destinations to the list of markets to receive our vegetable produce.

Thus, in recent times there has been a rising demand from countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Russia.

Germany consumes one in every three vegetables Murcia exports

The German market heads the buyer ranking of Murcian vegetables. Hence, between the months of January and October last year, this country bought a total of 301,543 tonnes of vegetables exported from the Region of Murcia in said period.

The United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands follow Germany in the list of receivers of the region’s vegetable produce, with total imports of 278,266, 151,952 and 104,520 tonnes, respectively for the first ten months of 2008.

The Eastern European countries, on the other hand, revealed themselves to be new destination markets for Murcia’s vegetables, whereby countries like Poland (19,563 t), Hungary (3,436 t), Slovakia (2,496 t), Russia (2,367 t) and Slovenia (1,075 t) are currently our main buyers in the east.

Over 48,000 hectares devoted to vegetable production

The figures of the acreage devoted to this kind of crops in our Region and which now, according to the latest information published by the Regional Government Agriculture and Water Department, stand at 48,214 hectares, evidences Murcia’s vegetable-growing vocation.

By product type, lettuce (12,788 Ha.), cauliflower and broccoli (11,021 Ha.) artichokes (7,098 Ha.), melon (5,700 Ha.), tomatoes (4,118 Ha.) and peppers (1,799 Ha.) are the vegetable crops occupying the largest acreages in our Region.

In production terms tomatoes (380,270 t), lettuce (301,687 t), melon (248,288 t), broccoli (151,090 t) and peppers (128,618 t) top the regional vegetable production list.

Tradition and innovation

The last two decades have been key for the development of the vegetable sector in Murcia, which thanks to its high quality has become a true benchmark in the various markets in which it operates.

Food quality and safety are, undoubtedly, the two features which best define Murcia’s vegetable produce. For its part, this sector in the Region has gradually been improving the distribution channels for its products, fostering the use of the most modern technologies and promoting “Agricultura Limpia” (Clean Agriculture).

In this context the “Agricultura Limpia” scheme promoted by the Regional Government Agriculture and Water Department has led the Region to become one of the most outstanding autonomous communities in Spain in the field of biological and biotechnological pest control and the replacement of phytosanitary products.

A delegation of over 300 professionals from the sector in Murcia will be travelling to Berlin to take part in the 16th edition of “Fruit Logisitica”, the most important agrifood event of those held in Europe and which will act as a privileged showcase for exhibiting its novelties and what the sector has to offer.

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