Agroaldea
Five historic Canarian tomato export come to this conclusion on a day where the final preparations of the 130 anniversary of the sector.
The day they retired is already far, but whenever they hear the word tomato, the body shivers, as if he needed to know where the information and what is said on it comes.
They are Francisco Cruz, Valid Victorino, Sebastian Mayor, Wild angle and Luis Peñate. All together account for more than 400 years and their lives have been linked to the Canarian tomato export.
On the occasion of the celebration of the 130 Anniversary of activity, a series of preparatory meetings where all those people who have a fundamental role being performed, directly or indirectly, they have linked their professional lives to the tomato sector.
On this occasion, the group is known as the of the 'historical'. Sweet and sour moments they lived, that swing in which the history of the Canarian tomato has gone. However, all coincide in highlighting that 'never allow that they might kill us'.
Sebastián Mayor was the spokesman of the Regional Commission of farmers in the Canary Islands that, back in the Decade of the 80 of the last century, He fought to prevent the establishment of reference prices, When was being negotiated the accession of Spain to the EEC, It would hurt irreversibly canaria agriculture.
Victorino earned was one of the producers who cultivated on the plains of La Mareta, in Telde, just where it is now the trade area. Also, It was 'one of the fixed' who came to Madrid to negotiate quotas ' the Peninsular is jumping constantly '.
Silvestre Angulo is the oldest and the only representative of a family business that continues to develop the activity in the village of San Nicolas. His father began to grow in the year 1931, associated with the British Mr. Pilcher. Horticultural villager tomatoes have enjoyed an outstanding reputation in United Kingdom, The Netherlands and Norway, among other countries.
The professional of Francisco Cruz has been linked to transport. Since the year 1944 and until the end of the Decade of the 90, Cruz has been the Chief Officer and expert on the intricacies of shipping companies operating in the Puerto de La Luz. Describes memory each of the boats of the various companies and the cooling system used for the transport of fruit.
Luis Peñate played the role of receiver in the ports of destination; the first in the United Kingdom and then, together with his brother, in Holland where he retired. Peñate recalls the prestige and the demand of the Canarian tomato quality. It sold very well at a time when competition was little, said Luis Peñate.
All of them have been witnesses of a time when transportation of tomatoes and other vegetables, both United Kingdom and the continent, they employed seven boats per week, one each day. They agree also noted that the activity allowed us to create many jobs and 'kill hungry', as well as the development of many towns of Gran Canaria and other islands.
What has happened with the Canarian tomato has no name. The responsible politicians have allowed their dismantling and that other competitors have taken advantage. Not to prevent its disappearance would be a tremendous irresponsibility, says this group of historical.
Within the programme of events of the 130 Anniversary that will be released soon, in the section ' talking with...' stakeholders know more of the biographical sketch of each of them, may participate in this activity which takes place in various scenarios.