Grows in the Canary Islands the cultivation of aromatic plants.

The production has gone from 5 to 40 hectares in the last five years and for the campaign 2015-2016 is expected to post a crop that will be around the 5 million euros.

According to the President of ASOCAR, Lopez Cappa, the value of production has gone from 300.000 euros annually in the campaign 2008/09 to 3,5 million euros per year (700.000 kilos) in the campaign 2013/14, and with a forecast of 5 EUR million for the campaign 2015/16, as he noted the employers.

The key to the implementation of the cultivation of aromatic in the Canary Islands has been “its privileged climate that makes it unique for the production, Since its climatic requirements were not satisfied on the Peninsula between the months of November to April, When in Europe there are no production”.

The main aromatic herbs currently cultivated on the Islands are: Basil, thyme, chives, Romero, Sage, Mint, dill and parsley and, a second, other species are exported as tarragon, oregano, Laurel or melisa.

The production is exported mainly, by air, to United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Russia and Peninsula, and from the Peninsula it re-exports to France, Belgium and other European countries, they indicate from Asocar.

However, from 2014, “seen the increase in production and due to the possibility of transport together with tomatoes, they began first shipments by sea to destinations which also covers this subsector as United Kingdom or Germany. The final destinations in Europe are the major supermarket chains like El Corte Inglés, Hipercor, Alcampo, Makro, Eroski, Caprabo, Ahorramas, Dinosol; in United Kingdom, Tesco, ASDA, Marks Spencer, Sainsbury, Morrisons, Waitrose, and, in Switzerland, Migros and Coop, among others”.

Almost all production centers have the certifications of quality “Global Gap”, “Leaf”, “Nature Choice” and “Field to Fork”, ensuring a quality production through the establishment of good farming practice and respect for the environment in the implementation of these international quality systems.

Today, in the Canary Islands there are more than 250 people hired in a direct way and, approximately, a hundred in an indirect way, with forecasts of increasing this number in the coming years, highlights Antonio López.

The establishment of an agricultural exporting activity in the Canary Islands would be unviable economically, If there were no compensation to the maritime and air transport of goods of Canary Islands origin towards the Peninsula and other countries of the EU regulated by RD 170/2009, which establishes a compensation system that allows you to reduce the effective cost of transport.

This compensatory tool has been a determining factor in seeking the reasons for expansion in the Canary Islands. Without it, the companies would not be profitable enough as to justify the expansion of recent years or would be justified to continue to grow in the future. On the contrary, without this compensation trade of this crop would decrease in favour of other geographical areas where it already has centres of production like Morocco”, highlighted Lopez.

Finally, from Asocar highlighted that “the main problem of this crop is the phytosanitary barrier imposed without reason at some points of the EU inspection, including the Peninsula”.