Spanish stonefruit and topfruit exporter GrupActel has declared itself 'very satisfied' with the results of a new initiative to convert the majority of its production to biological pest control systems.
The Catalonia-based group said that its 'Healthy Fruits' project – the name given by GrupActel to its biological pest control initiative – was currently being implemented across its production sites, following a successful year-long trial.
Speaking at the inaugural edition of the Fruit Attraction trade fair in Madrid, GrupActel's sales director, Josep Lluis Trilla, said that some 3,000ha were now being managed under the Healthy Fruits systems, with a further 800ha set to be planted over the next 12 months.
The aim, he said, was to convert 100 per cent of GrupActel's production, which covers 4,500ha, to biological pest control systems.
'A year ago we started the Healthy Fruits programme, which is our promise as a company to our customers to produce that is good for your health,' he said.
'We want to be present in important emerging markets, such as Russia, which are extremely demanding, and we want to differentiate ourselves from other companies through this project. We are very satisfied with the results of the programme so far.'
Mr Trilla said that GrupActel was interested in developing product labelling featuring the 'Healthy Fruits' brand with its retail clients in Europe.
