It is the land of expressions like “I've had a big panic attack.”"to refer to when a person gets dizzy, from the "“to fall asleep”"when someone is disoriented, from the "“heater”"to designate heat, of the "“a little bit”"to say a little bit and of the "“shepherds”"For the children. Can you guess which region we're talking about?" 

Yes, indeed, from the Region of Murcia. At EDYPRO today we want to pay our own special tribute to this land, which celebrates its big day on June 9th. 

This is one of the regions where agriculture is a strategic sector of the regional economy. The Region of Murcia and its rich agricultural land are considered among the most fertile and prosperous in Spain. Consequently, it boasts a large agricultural industry based on quality and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, it has one of the highest percentages of organic farming in crops such as table grapes. 

This translates into a high percentage of drip irrigation and investment in R&D to ensure the viability of newly planted crops and the profitability of traditional ones.  

The result is the magnificent explosion of crops and its wide range of fruit and vegetable products that have a solid position and great prestige in national and international markets such as the pears of Jumilla, the early peaches of Cieza, the table grapes of Blanca, the melon of Torre Pacheco, the lemons of Santomera or the wines of the Designations of Origin of Yecla, Bullas and Jumilla, or the tomatoes of Mazarrón. 

Among them, from EDYPRO we highlight; 

 -Lemons. This is the region's star citrus fruit. And it's cultivated with special care in the municipality of Santomera. The main destinations for this "lemon grove of Europe" are France, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, and Poland. 

-Table grapes. Its two main producing municipalities are Alhama de Murcia and Totana. The Region of Murcia accounts for more than 6,364 hectares out of a national total of 13,903, according to the Statistical Yearbook of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. This represents approximately 46.1% of national production, the largest share, ahead of the Valencian Community. 

-Broccoli. Murcia harvests more than 140,000 tons of this vegetable annually, whose main market is Northern and Central Europe. It is primarily grown in the Guadalentín Valley and Campo de Cartagena.  

–Lettuce. The more than 30,000 tons produced annually in the Region of Murcia account for 351% of the national market. The most widely cultivated varieties in the Region are Romana, Iceberg (predominant in the Campo de Cartagena, Guadalentín Valley, and Águilas), and Batavia. 

-Early stone fruit. Stone fruit crops in the Region include apricot, red and yellow peach, nectarine, Paraguayo peach and platerinas, and with a smaller production of cherry and plum.   

The production of this type of fruit in Murcia is the first to reach the national market due to its early harvest, from April to August and September. 

The municipality of Cieza is a leader in peach production. Some of the varieties most appreciated by consumers across Europe are Catherina, Carson, Baby Gold 6, Andross, and Sudanel. 

Although the region also produces varieties such as Pipas or Brasileño, Vesubio, Fortuna, Marujas, Jerónimos, and Calabaceros, the latter three being native to the area. Annual production in 2021 was 300,958 tons, which are primarily sold in the domestic market and in central and northern Europe. 

Another fruit that stands out in Murcia is the apricot, mainly in the area of Cieza, Abarán and Blanca, which produced 54,739 tons in 2021. 

Which of these fruits and vegetables are your favorites?