THE COOPERATIVE OF THE SOUTH OF TENERIFE MADE THIS BET FACING THE DIFFICULTIES THAT THE BANANA AND TOMATO ARE GOING THROUGH.

The Agricultural Cooperative of Guía de Isora, Coagisora, has planted in 20 bushels more than 15.000 papayas that are expected to produce an annual amount of more than one million kilos of the papaya variety “intenzza”, with a special flavor, more durable and resistant to temperatures.

This product is already being exported to Alicante, Madrid and other areas of the Peninsula and aims to be a complementary commodity to tomatoes and bananas, who precisely do not have a good time due to market competition and low production, in the case of tomato.

The president of Coagisora, Francisco Mesa, explained that previously another type of papaya was grown but ” This did not give good results”. In this case, the Cooperative is “satisfied” with the forecasts for a plantation that began “experimentally last year, and that is trying to gain a foothold in the competition with the Brazilian market” .

At the moment the idea is to continue with this bet since the Peninsula is an emerging market, Mesa pointed out.. The papaya is exported through the Coplaca company, that works with banana.

Regarding the banana, Mesa recognized that its export is “fatal”, not because of its production, which is abundant, but because the market has gained in competitors and excess production, added. In 2009 were cultivated 12 million kilos of bananas. The quota established for the Canary Islands is 420.000 tons per year. “Now there are more bananas than the peninsular market admits”, Mesa pointed out..

Regarding tomatoes, Francisco Mesa indicated that the situation is worrying.. Years ago the cooperative managed to execute 36 million kilos annually and now it has increased to seven million. Producers and farmers, that bring tomatoes and bananas to Coagisora ​​packaging have shown their concern. “Nobody knows what the future of this sector will be.”, says the president of Coagisora ​​who complains about the “little help” received.

“Farmers tell me they are disoriented”, says Francisco Mesa. moment, it only fits “keep working” and create alternatives, as in this case, papaya cultivation.