BIG Interview with Luis Elías Soria: Innovation and quality in the nursery sector

Spain

Thursday 25 July 2024

Located in Zaragoza, Spain, Viveros Mariano Soria is a company that has managed to stand out in the competitive world of nursery production. In an interview with Fructidor, Luis Elías Soria, Business Development Manager, talks about the challenges of the industry and the innovations that make his company a reference in the sector.

Fructidor: What challenges does Viveros Mariano Soria face in order to remain competitive in the industry?

Luis Elías Soria: ‘Maintaining competitiveness is complicated due to the high costs of inputs and labour, as well as competition with fraudulent plant propagation. We are also adapting to new regulations on the use of phytopharmaceuticals required by the EU. Although these regulations aim for a healthier product, only products produced in the EU are controlled, which is frustrating for horticulturists,’ explains Mariano Soria, highlighting the challenges and regulations in the sector.

Fructidor: What makes Viveros Mariano Soria better than its competitors? Tell us something special about your business and your products.

Luis Elías Soria: ‘Here at Viveros Mariano Soria we have decades of experience and advanced facilities, including greenhouses and chambers, as well as a field nursery. We work collaboratively in trial fields with several breeders and handle hundreds of varietal references. In our sector, the quality of the plants depends not only on care and attention to detail, but also on the weather each year. Although it is difficult to always have the most spectacular plant, we excel at making our customers' projects always competitive by adapting to their specific conditions. Our personalised approach ensures that each customer receives the best combination of rootstock, variety and planting frame.

Fructidor: Who are your main customers and in which markets do you operate?

Luis Elías Soria:

‘Our main market is in the Iberian Peninsula, especially in Aragon, Catalonia, Extremadura, Murcia and southern Portugal. However, we have had success in multiple destinations, including France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Algeria, South Africa and Egypt’.

Fructidor: Is there anything new you would like to share?

Luis Elías Soria: ‘Our new extra late apricot varieties, Winnie Cot and Rubibop, can be visited in our trial fields until the end of the month. These varieties, from International Plant Selection and Cot International respectively, offer superior taste quality and greater hardiness in handling. We are sure they will be much talked about in the coming seasons’.

If you are interested in visiting Viveros Mariano Soria, please send us your enquiry.