Spain: Greenhouses expect vegetable consumption to recover after the inflationary stage

Greenhouse vegetable producers in southeastern Andalusia are facing a significant challenge due to a consumer consumption drop and a major price surge of over 25% in the past year caused by inflation. This situation, highlighted by the Association of Organizations of Fruit and Vegetable Producers of Almería (Coexphal), has led to a 13.9% decrease in vegetable consumption in Spanish households, with a similar decline in export markets like Germany. Despite producers only slightly increasing prices to cover rising costs, supermarkets have increased their margins, leading to concerns about maintaining competitiveness, especially against Moroccan productions. The upcoming Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is seen as a positive step with its commitment to providing direct aid to fruits and vegetables, although it also introduces more bureaucracy that could increase time costs for operators. Additionally, the article discusses the potential benefits of solar greenhouses, an intensive agricultural model, in terms of sustainability and environmental impact, with plans to promote this model.