Move enables the federation to actively participate in the development of EU policies affecting the sector
Spanish berry association Freshuelva has become an official member of the Assembly of European Horticultural Regions (AREFLH), the main body representing fruit and vegetable regions and producer organisations of the European Union, with the aim of strengthening the competitiveness, sustainability, and international projection of the sector.
With its membership, Freshuelva becomes a member of the AREFLH Producers’ Association, which includes representatives from Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, and Spain.
“This integration will allow us to participate in European working groups on water, climate change, plant health, CMOs, innovation, and promotion, in addition to accessing strategic information on the evolution of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), foreign trade, and sustainability initiatives promoted by Brussels,” Freshuelva said.
According to its president, Francisco José Gómez Macías, the move will “strengthen the role of Huelva’s berries on the European stage” and “allow the sector’s interests to be more strongly defended in the debates that will shape the future of EU agriculture”.
Gómez noted that the membership comes “at a decisive moment for the new CAP 2028-2034, in which it is essential that the voice of Andalusian and Huelva producers be present in Europe, contributing to a sustainable, competitive, and socially committed agricultural model”.
Established in 2000, AREFLH has been chaired since April by the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development of the Andalusian Regional Government, through its head, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco, who holds the position for a three-year term. Andalusia thus assumes the role of defending the interests of European fruit and vegetable-producing regions, highlighting the role of agriculture as a guarantor of food sovereignty and sustainability.
Among the commitments undertaken by Freshuelva is its active participation in the AREFLH working groups, as well as the contribution of its experience in topics such as water management, varietal innovation, sustainable soil disinfection, and the international promotion of berries.
Furthermore, Freshuelva will be able to participate in European cooperation and research projects funded by programs such as Horizon Europe or Interreg, focusing on resource efficiency, environmental sustainability, and adaptation to climate change.
