Spanish ornamental flower producer Horticina has become the first company to invest in large-scale blueberry production in the northern Spanish province of Galicia.
The project, which has received €250,000 in financial support from the Regional Council of La Coruña, will initially cover an area of 72ha near the town of Cerdido and is expected to generate 20 full time jobs and seasonal employment for a further 750 workers.
The company said it hoped to harvest around 1,000 tonnes of blueberries within the next five years and is currently in talks with Hortifrut with a view to setting up a joint venture in the province.
Horticina was established in 2001 to produce and export Camelias and other ornamental flowers but in 2009 much of its production was wiped out by Hurricane Klaus which destroyed more than 260,000 plants. After this, the decision as made to move into blueberry production.
