Spain: The potato from Vega de Antequera with tradition, innovation, and quality
Although varieties such as Spunta and Fábula have historically been the most cultivated, in recent years new varieties with more homogeneous formats have been introduced.
In the fertile Vega de Antequera, the Horticultores El Torcal cooperative leads one of the area’s most emblematic agricultural campaigns: potato cultivation. This activity is divided into two distinct seasons: early or mid-season potatoes, harvested between late June and July, and late or green potatoes, harvested between late December and early February.
Although varieties such as Spunta and Fábula have historically been the most widely grown, new varieties with more uniform formats have been introduced in recent years, adapted to current market demands for both washed and unwashed potatoes. Thanks to this diversification, a greater presence in national distribution channels is achieved.
The crop occupies between 450 and 500 hectares, with an annual production of 17 million kilos. Harvesting and maintenance generate approximately 30 days per hectare, and another 9 days per hectare are used for work in the handling and packaging centers.
More than 50% of the production is handled in the cooperative’s own facilities, which have 5,000 m² equipped with modern packaging lines. It is sold in 3, 5, 10, 15, and 25-kilogram formats, both washed and dry-packed, including specific lines for the food service channel and the box market.
Horticultores El Torcal continues to focus on quality, sustainability, and market adaptation, keeping alive an agricultural tradition that is at the heart of Antequera.
Fuente:
