El sector hortícola del Sureste de España a través de la empresa Primaflor, S.L.

Abstract

In the Southeast of Spain, the development of the horticultural sector (new products and varieties) is due to the efforts of harvesting and exporting companies like Primaflor S.L. (located in Bajo Almanzora, with headquarters in Pulpí). It has carried out several R+D+i projects to improve horticultural production and distribution and also its participation in the agri-food chain. The production of more than 6,000 ha (own and leased) is carried out in different parts of the provinces of Almeria, Murcia, Albacete and Granada. The aim is to stage the production throughout the year, to meet the demands of the domestic and foreign markets. In their experimental and trial plots they have introduced new varieties, which they move to the field for open-ground production. Also in the newest greenhouses, under covers and on metallic structures they develop in hydroponic (solution recycled of nutrients NGS) the crops «move» (Horticulture 3.0). This leads to achieve the productive infrastructure and get a loyal market throughout the year. It has also developed the IV Gama (like salads that mean more than a quarter of the company's total production) at its factory in Las Canalejas, Cuevas del Almanzora. In the production, manipulated for fresh consumption, and in the IV Gama processes, more than 2,000 workers are employed (a third of them of foreign origin). The company has been vertically integrated and has an import-export company, to overcome the difficulties of the foreign market and facilitate the importation of certain products to complete the processed products they prepare. This is a case study of a family business like Primaflor, S.L. The development of its activity has become Agroalimentary Group that exceeds 150 million euros of business, with more than 155 million kg marketed, a referent in Spain as Salads producer. The analysis of Primaflor's group of companies (SAT nº 9855 PRIMAFLOR OPFH, PEREGRIN SL, PRIMAFLOR AGRÍCOLA SL, AGRÍCOLA COMERCIAL EXPORTADORA SL, AGUAS DEL MARQUESADO DE ZENETE, SL, etc.) and the diagnosis of production, handling and transformation processes, and horticultural distribution, let us explain the current commercialization in a global agri-food chain.