The mayor of Lebrija visited the Las Marismas Cooperative at the start of the tomato harvest for industry, a campaign expected to reach 300 workers and which presents positive prospects.
The Las Marismas Cooperative in Lebrija has kicked off the tomato harvest for industry, one of the most important events in the agricultural calendar in the province of Seville. The local mayor, who visited the facilities on Tuesday, learned firsthand about the forecasts for a harvest that is being approached with optimism.
During the tour, the mayor met with the president of the cooperative, José Tejero, and the general director, Eugénio Ferreira. Both conveyed to the mayor the good expectations for the campaign, which is already underway and is expected to generate around 300 direct jobs during the harvest months.
According to data from the City Council, Lebrija is the largest producer of tomatoes in the province of Seville, making this campaign a thermometer of the economic health of the municipality. The Las Marismas Cooperative, a benchmark in tomato concentrate production, focuses on quality, innovation, and sustainability to compete in international markets.
The meeting also addressed the general situation of the agricultural sector. The cooperative's leaders assessed that the campaign is proceeding normally and highlighted the positive effect of recent state and regional aid. These subsidies, they explained, have helped to cushion the impact of the difficulties the sector has faced in recent years, such as rising costs and drought.
The mayor, for his part, praised the work of the Las Marismas Cooperative, which he described as an economic engine and an example of innovation in the agri-food sector. He emphasized that the entity not only generates employment but also boosts the local economy and projects the name of Lebrija abroad thanks to the quality of its products.
Beyond tomatoes, the cooperative leaders conveyed to the mayor the good prospects for the upcoming cotton campaign, another strategic crop for agriculture in Lebrija. Although there are no specific dates yet, the harvest is expected to begin in the coming weeks, with equally positive expectations.
The mayor's visit to the cooperative comes at a time when the agricultural sector in the Las Marismas del Guadalquivir region seeks to consolidate its recovery after difficult years. The tomato campaign, due to its volume of employment and revenue, is key to retaining population and energizing the local productive fabric.
The City Council of Lebrija has stated that it will continue to support the primary sector, facilitating the processing of aid and promoting the modernization of farms. Collaboration between local administration and cooperatives is considered essential to maintain the competitiveness of Lebrija's agriculture in an increasingly demanding global market.
The residents of Lebrija and nearby municipalities, many of whom work at the cooperative during the campaign, see this harvest as an opportunity to improve their incomes. The tomato harvest will last several weeks, and the cooperative is hopeful that the weather conditions will be favourable to achieve quality production.
