Spain's Almería region looks across the ocean

Spanish tomato exporters in Andalusia face heavy competition from North American production, but they’re optimistic as they continue to look for a niche in the U.S.

Exporters say crossing the Atlantic Ocean is often a complicated task, and transportation costs and the weakening dollar have limited exports. However, the Andalusia region in southern Spain is ramping up efforts to introduce greenhouse vegetables to the U.S.

The Almería region is home to 64,200 acres of greenhouses and shadehouses, and 12,300 open-field acres, producing 3 million tons of produce annually worth US$3 billion, said Jose Antonio Aliaga, chief of agricultural services for Andalusia.

The region’s main crops are tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, squash and eggplant, Aliaga said.
 

The Almería Chamber of Commerce plans to introduce Mediterranean flavors to the U.S., focusing on produce and specialty foods in cans and jars, destined to food service operators and retailers. The chamber plans to organize a commercial trade mission to Miami early next year.
 

Because of an unfavorable exchange rate, a stronger euro and a weaker dollar, exports from Spain to the U.S. have dropped considerably in recent years.

Datacomex, the official statistics of the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Trade, Madrid, reported that as of Dec. 4th,  Almería exported 1.27million tonnes of tomatoes to the U.S., compared to 0.58 million tonnes in 2007.

Spain’s most successful export year within the past five years was in 2003, when the country exported 3.71 million tonnes.

With the U.S. dollar closing in on the euro, Spanish companies that ceased shipments to the U.S. are renewing their exporting licenses to comply with all U.S requirements, Aliaga said.