The Murcian group is maintaining its melon crop plans for the spring, with the aim of exporting about 50,000 tons. Meanwhile, it continues to diversify its supply, which includes 15,000 tons of Galia melons, 12,000 of the yellow variety, 7,000 Cantaloupe and 2,000 Charentais. Their piel de sapo melon exports come to just 2,000 tons of highly selected and half-size melons, between 1 and 2 kg per piece, and with more than 12º Brix. Their sole destination is Northern Europe. Their watermelon range is also one of the widest, with white seeded varieties, yellow and red fleshed, black seedless, mini blacks and whites, with or without seeds. “We supply the whole of Europe and Russia, with some going overseas to the UAE, for example,” explains their sales manager Jose Canovas.
Their supply of lettuce comes to 110 million pieces from 2,500 ha of crops.
Lettuce
Peregrín has new 16,000 m2 facilities
Peregrín, the Agrarian Transformation Society (SAT in Spanish) based in Pulpí (Almería) that grows and sells horticultural products, has opened a new facility with 16,000 m2 of covered area. With this, the company plans to diversify its activity into other lines of business and to add new products to its range. After undertaking a major investment, the company now has modern infrastructures that enable it to continue to increase its production capacity, incorporating the latest technology throughout the building in the areas of handling, packaging, sales and offices. Together with their lettuce specialties, which include iceberg, baby, Romaine, endive and oak leaf, as well as garlic, Peregrín’s range of produce also has radishes, pomegranates, artichokes, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach and several varieties of melon.
Peregrín have handling centers in Pulpí, Las Pedroñeras (Cuenca) and Santaella (Córdoba), and their grower partners have crops in Córdoba, Málaga, Cuenca, Almería, Murcia and Albacete. The company, which was founded by a family, has a turnover of 60 million euros and employs 400 workers. They have over 25 years’ experience in producing and distributing garlic and lettuce, although the family business dates back to the 1930s with three generations that have since taken over the running of the company.
Commercially, they distribute their products under the Gold and La Reine brands, selling 60 million kilos, with an export percentage of 65%.
Recently, Peregrín has renewed its corporate identity with a new website and logo with the slogan Sunny Thinkin’. The website is very consumer-focused, giving tips and recipes, plus their entire catalog of products and their availability. Along with this strong multimedia commitment, some of Peregrín’s staff explain through videos how the company’s various departments operate.