Board also appoints Joan Serentill and Jose Vicente Almudever as vice-presidents for fruits and flowers and plants
Spanish fruit and vegetable exporter federation Fepex had elected Cecilio Peregrin as its new president. He replaces Jorge Brotóns, who has held the position since 2006. Joan Serentill, representing the fruit sector, and Jose Vicente Almudever, representing the flower and plant sector, were elected vice-presidents.
Águilas, Murcia-born Peregrín has more than 40 years of experience in the fruit and vegetable sector. Since 1989 he has been at Primaflor, which was initially dedicated to the production of flowers and is now a benchmark in the lettuce and salad sector. He currently holds the position of corporate director.
Peregrín is a member of the boards of directors of the associations Coexphal (Almería) and Proexport (Murcia) and president of the Association of Businessmen of Almería (Asempal). He is also president of the lettuce sector committee of Fepex, where he held the position of vice president.
He said his priorities as president of Fepex are to tackle important issues for the sector such as water scarcity, labour, phytosanitary products and competition from third countries.
Peregrín has called for urgent government investment to resolve Spain’s water crisis, as well as more training for workers and investment in mechanisation and automation to address the country’s labour shortage.
Peregrín said he would give priority to keeping the various sectorial associations united and cohesive and to drawing up a consensual work plan that reinforces the actions developed to date.
Fepex expressed its gratitude to Brotóns for his 18 years in office, during which the federation has consolidated its position as a benchmark in the agricultural sector, significantly expanding its social base with the incorporation of numerous associations.
“He stood out for his conciliatory attitude and sectoral vision, contributing his knowledge and professional and personal experience to all the projects undertaken by the Federation in these years, such as the creation of Fruit Attraction,” Fepex said.
The Fepex board is made up of representatives from 30 associations in the fruit and vegetable and flower and plant sectors.
