Navarra is a national and international force in frozen vegetables. Three companies based in the Foral Community – Grupo Virto, Congelados de Navarra and Gelagri Ibérica– and that adds up to a total of fifteen production plants distributed across the Spanish geography, in addition spearhead of formal agribusinessa clear reference in a sector which, in the past year, for the first time in the last decade, saw production decline.

The drought has stolen some of the crop and its description decreased by 7%. This is the percentage that, when translated into tons, means they have stopped producing 88,000 tonnes compared to the 710,000 who left all of their factories in 2021. Undoubtedly the unusual climate year they are having in a context with strong surges in transport, seeds, phytosanitary products, wood and, especially, energy, since these industries are the biggest consumers. great for deep-freezing.

Three Navarrese owned companies Spanish Association of Frozen Vegetable Producers (Asevec), was born in 1985 and unites eight companies representing 95% of production throughout Spain. As well as the three companies based in Navarra, there are Ardo (addressed in Valencia, although it has a factory in Marcilla and was acquired by the Peruvian group Virú), Congelados Pedaneo (Murcia), Fruveco (Murcia), Talfrost (Albacete) and Alimentaria Aragonesa (Zaragoza). Among the eight companies, they produced 843,864 tonnes of frozen vegetables last year, 8% less than the previous year’s 941,300.

PEAS, THE BIGGEST PRODUCTION DECREASE

The main vegetables the company produces in Navarra, ranked from highest to lowestbroccoli, peppers, peas, green beans and spinach. Climatic conditions, in association as a whole, showed a reduction in pea production of more than 35%. In Navarra, the mung bean campaign, which occupies more than 3,600 hectares, suffered significant declines as it suffered from frosts in April and heat in May.

Spinach was another seriously affected vegetable nationally (-23%), followed by shallots (23%), potatoes (-19%), zucchini (19%) and chickpeas (19%). Among the categories that were maintained, or whose production increased slightly, broccoli (+8%) and rice (+7%) stood out.

Spain is the second European country to produce frozen vegetables, beaten only by Belgium. It should be noted that the three companies from Navarra also have production centers in countries such as Portugal, France, Belgium, Poland and the United States. Indeed, Europe is the main destination for Navarre vegetables, as between 65-70% of production is exported.

Just as important as production are the jobs these companies generate in rural areas. The 8 Asevec companies add up to 4,600 direct jobs, of which 3,800 are located in 15 factories of the three Navarrese companies (about 2,200 in the Foral Community). Regarding indirect employment, the national sector as a whole, according to Asevec data, provides 15,000 jobs, 12,000 of which are linked to the three Navarrese companies.