Andalusian fresh produce association Hortyfruta has pledged to work with its cooperative members to improve the quality of melon and watermelon production, as a means of ensuring the products do not lose market share to other competing nations.
The measure was highlighted among a package of resolutions that the southern Spanish organisation adopted as part of an action plan at its annual general assembly, held in Almeria.
As part of a range of proposals adopted by Hortyfruta in its Annual Action Plan for 2010/11, the association vowed to make sure its producers complied with the Andalusian regional government’s Standardisation Decree for fruit and vegetable production.
In a statement, Hortyfruta said compliance with the decree would ensure its members’ products reached markets in “a perfect condition” for consumers, while making sure a suitable level of sales could be developed.
The organisation said it also wanted to “intensity” its work to improve the quality of melon and watermelon production, which it said was necessary to ensure the category did not “lose competitiveness against other producing countries”.
In a slight alteration to its production remit, Hortyfruta’s general assembly also approved a proposal to remove several open-field crops from its product coverage, namely chinese cabbage, table grapes, lettuce and watermelon.
Tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, green beans, melons and greenhouse-grown watermelons will all remain within the product portfolio.
