The Farmers' Center hosted the first meeting on March 10th, marking the initial step in shaping a future marketing center for Cieza peaches. This first of many meetings was attended by Mayor Pascual Lucas, Councilor for Agriculture Antonio Moya, representatives and presidents of the Farmers' Center, COAG, UPA, and FECOAM, as well as representatives from the cooperatives ALIMER, THADER, and LA VEGA.
During the meeting, discussions focused on the need to find a legal framework for the creation of this center. To this end, Santiago Martínez, president of FECOAM, offered the legal services of his organization, based on his experience in these matters.
During the meeting, it was mentioned that, "clearly, it's time to take this step; because if things continue this way, the future isn't very promising, and generational succession would be very difficult. It's essential to set and standardize prices that, of course, are never below the farmer's costs, making it clear that the fruit must be sold sooner. To achieve this, we need to standardize not only prices but also criteria, hold business meetings, and attend trade fairs together, united, with one voice, instead of each going their own way. This involves studying plantations, yields, supply, demand, sales management, etc.—in short, professionalization."
They also discussed capitalizing on the momentum generated by the flowering season and the successful advertising and marketing campaign it's generating, emphasizing the need to continue it. "To that end," they said, "it would be very beneficial to use its logo, as well as the parallel logo created for the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) of our peaches, a project undertaken by the PGI itself, which will also be essential for this project." The step taken to establish a Dual Vocational Training program in Agriculture in Cieza for the next academic year was deemed fundamental, a move welcomed and supported by the entire sector.
According to municipal sources, all those attending this first meeting expressed their "satisfaction with how it went, describing it as very positive, agreeing on the need to take steps to build confidence in this project, which will be joined by other representatives and businesspeople, and, although these conversations have obviously been interrupted by COVID-19, they will resume as soon as the state of emergency decree allows it."
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