Substantial increases in the levels of integrated and organic farming in Murcia are helping the Spanish region to achieve continued success in key European markets, according to new figures from the regional government of Murcia.
The high quality and food safety levels of Murcia’s fruit and vegetables have been key factors in positioning the region’s fresh produce in global markets over recent years, while the rise in integrated and organic production is enabling safer foods to be produced, the region said.
The UK, Germany and France account for 65 per cent of Murcia’s fruit and vegetable exports, which last year fetched a total of €1,539m.
In a statement, the region said the last two decades had been decisive for developing and consolidating the fruit and vegetable sector in Murcia, which has been able to blend innovation and tradition, while also maintaining exports.
According to the authorities, the role of organic farming in Murcia is steadily becoming more important, with 37,625ha now dedicated to this form of production in which nuts and grapes are among the main crops.
The latest data published by the Region of Murcia Organic Farming Council has revealed that the amount of land used for organic production has increased by 52 per cent year-on-year, rising from 24,683ha in 2007 to 37,625ha by the end of 2008.
By sectors, nuts lead the region’s organic crop ranking, with a total of 17,771ha, while citrus is the crop with the second most important increase in acreage in Murcia over the last year, up 94 per cent to stand at 457ha.
The region said that overseas markets, principally the UK, Germany and France, receive over 90 per cent of Murcia’s organic products, although it added that the sector was slowly gaining ground with consumers in Spain.
Fruit and vegetables are produced on an estimated 190,000ha of land in Murcia, of which over half – 102,201ha – is devoted to fruit trees, while vegetables and citrus trees occupy 48,214ha and 38,767ha respectively.
In terms of fruit trees, almonds, peaches, apricots, plums and pears are the predominant crops in the region, in total accounting for 99 per cent of the acreage in Murcia devoted to fruit production.
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