Five leading Spanish fresh produce cooperatives from the region of Extremadura have come together to create a joint venture marketing group – the Extremaduran Cooperative Marketing Company – for the distribution and sale of stonefruit, softfruit and other produce.

According to press reports in the country, Extremaduran cherries, tomatoes, pears, plums, peaches, nectarines and raspberries will be marketed by the new group in Spain and other European markets under the brand names ‘Deguste’ and ‘Cáparra’.

Guillermo Fernández Vara, president of Extremadura’s regional government, met with the heads of the five cooperatives – Valle del Jerte, Tomates del Guadiana, Acopaex, Acenorca and Cooperativa de Monterrubio – in the town of Mérida recently to confirm the creation of the new company.

Acenorca president Casto Prieto told the media that the objectives of the formation of the group was to professionalise the sales activities and brand image of the cooperatives, while also working together on product investigation and development.