The tomato brown rugose fruit virus has caused a significant reduction in the fall and winter tomato production, something that has been aggravated by the impact of constant rains and falling temperatures. As a result, prices are on the rise.
"The tomato season has been affected by the spread of the ToBRFV virus, which has led to significant losses in production. Because of this, as well as the drop in temperatures and adverse weather, there has been a shortage of produce," says Ana Lucía Méndez, corporate officer at Grupo Perichán.
"Moreover, the high production costs have put additional pressure on the sector," she says. "These are difficult times in the tomato sector because we are facing the uncertainty of the new varieties with resistance to ToBRFV, whose production is inferior to that of conventional varieties," says Ana Lucía.
Agrícola Perichán is one of the biggest agricultural companies in the Region of Murcia. It has an average workforce of 1,500 people, although, in the summer season, it has around 2,000 employees and an annual production of more than 100,000 tons of fruit and vegetables which are exported all over the world. The main crop produced and marketed by its members is tomato, which accounts for 72% of the total value of their production. In 2024, it marketed a total of 9 products, with an overall sales value of more than 150 million euros.
It is currently made up of 10 producer members with farms located in the Region of Murcia, where they have more than 500 hectares of crops. They also have productions in the provinces of Albacete, with 250 hectares, and Almeria, with 75 hectares. Its main market is the domestic one, with 95% of its sales going to supermarket chains and 5% to wholesale markets.
The company has recently completed the remodeling of its central warehouse in Mazarrón, in Murcia, which is also where its headquarters are located. These improvements have allowed the company to introduce new technology, including a state-of-the-art sorting machine that will allow it to process up to 20 tons per hour.
This new tool, essential for grading fruit and vegetables according to parameters such as weight or thickness, has ninety cameras capable of processing 2,700 units per minute and two types of produce at the same time, boosting productivity and therefore also efficiency.
Regarding the growing competition in the European tomato sector from third countries such as Morocco and Turkey, Ana Lucía says "We are in a globalized and demanding market and our products compete against those produced by companies all over the world. This is a reality that we have been facing for years with the implementation of new procedures and machinery, such as our recently acquired sorting machine, which are allowing us to offer our clients a product that stands out for its quality."
"Spanish producers are always on the lookout for anything that can help their raw material stand out on the market from that of other countries. Right now, Spanish products are renowned in the world for their quality and food safety," says the company's corporate officer.
On the occasion of the opening of the facilities after their renovation, Agrícola Perichán was visited by Murcia's Regional Councilor for Water, Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, Sara Rubira, who was given a tour of this new space.
For more information:
Agrícola Perichán
Diputación Cañada de Gallego, s/n
30876 Mazarrón, Murcia. Spain.
Tel.: +34 968 15 88 12
info@perichan.com
www.perichan.com