A deal which could see up to 500,000 tonnes of Spanish fruit and vegetables shipped into the port of Southampton has been signed.
Sixty new jobs will be created at Southampton Fruit Handling as a result of the new shipping route between Almeria, in the southeast of Spain, and the Hampshire port.
The first ship is due to unload in Southampton next month.
Jose Manuel Ortiz, Andalucia's minister for agriculture, said: 'We are not only speaking about exports to the UK; from here in Southampton we could have a logistics platform for fresh produce from Almeria for other countries too.'
Chris Harries, of Southampton Fruit Handling, signalled his delight at the deal, and noted that it was essential given that from next year more costs will be imposed on vehicles driving through France.
The new route will take Spanish-grown fruit and vegetables on a three-day journey, and bringing the produce in by sea rather than using lorries will save an estimated 12 million road miles.
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