A quality brand for garlic from Córdoba
The garlic sector from Campiña Sur, in Córdoba, has set a target of achieving a quality brand that differentiates and distinguishes their productions. Thus, during a meeting a few days ago with the Territorial Delegate of Agriculture of the Government of Andalusia, Francisco Zurera, their representatives agreed to start the process for requesting a quality brand that is applicable to this product, namely the Geographical Indication (PGI), which in Spain has only the purple garlic from Pedroñeras (Cuenca). At the meeting also participated Miguel Ruz, mayor of Montalban, a town that traditionally is being associated with its production of garlic, recognized for its high quality.
The delegate expressed the support of the Board for this initiative, providing the necessary support and advice, noting that garlic produced in the area of the municipality has everything going for it to aspire to this quality award, which would be a incentive for a crop which in this province supports over 400,000 daily wages. However, he warned that the procedures involved will involve a long journey before getting a response from the European Union, which has the final say in granting approval to the request for this brand.
The Cordovan garlic sector is distinguished by its purely export character, targeting 80% of its production abroad, and their continue commitment to quality, investing in innovation and food security, as safer to differentiate their productions for excellence way and guarantees, rather than price. A very successful policy, considering that we are talking about a product that each year fluctuates in price, as a result of unfair competition from third countries, especially China, with labor legislation that favors cheap labor and whose productions are not conform to the requirements concerning quality required of European.
Mayor of Montalban thinks the ajero industry stands in this county economic engine, generating quality employment as regards the working conditions of their employees.
As an example of the investment effort in this sector are more than 550,000 euros for projects of improvements in the processing and marketing of garlic agribusiness, in the towns of Montilla, Montalban and Santaella. Investment supported by the Ministry of Agriculture with an aid in the last term of 175,000 euros.
The acreage this year in the Cordoba province exceeds 2,500 hectares of garlic, estimated production around 12,000 or 14,000 kilograms per hectare, so the harvest could rise to 30 million kilos. A provision that could be improved with the rains in recent weeks. As far as quality and prices are concerned, there are good prospects for the sector.
In Andalusia, there are 5.000 garlic planted hectares and 26,000 in Spain, making the country the first producer of the European Union, with 65% of the sowing area.
