Multiple protests against South African orange sales

Farmers, residents and other fruit industry workers gather in their thousands

SIMULTANEOUS protests outside town halls across two provinces again South African oranges undercutting local prices were staged on Monday evening, with thousands of farmers, residents and restaurateurs joining in.

Pego (Marina Alta, Alicante province) attracted over 2,000 demonstrators, who marched from the main Paseo Cervantes to the town hall, and was backed by mayor Enrique Moll.

The council leader read out a manifesto calling for Spain's government to 'renegotiate' with the European Commission in light of the fruit-growing crisis in the region.

“Entire harvests have been left unpicked in our orchards,” Moll said.

“Part of our economy is based upon agriculture, and we need it to stay on its feet.”

He thanked the ordinary members of the public who took part for their support.

The banner carried by protesters in lead file read, 'Let's protect our countryside for the sake of fair farming' ('Defendamos el campo por la dignidad de los labradores'), and has now been draped across the front of Pego town hall.

This slogan takes its name from the region-wide Plataforma per la Dignitat del Llaurador ('Campaign for Fair Farming'), which organised the protests.

As well as Pego, several thousand residents, orangegrove owners, and workers in the catering, export, wholesale and distribution industries made their voices heard outside their town halls across the Marina Alta (Alicante province), including Pedreguer, Ondara and El Verger, in La Safor (Valencia province) and in Burriana and Nules (Castellón province.

They demonstrated in Oliva, Potries, Xeresa, Bellreguard, Xeraco, Almiserà, and the Valldigna towns of Benifairó, Simat and Tavernes.

The European Union signed a deal in 2016 removing certain trade restrictions on farm produce from four African countries allowing their export into the bloc.

As a result, South African oranges have recently begun to pour into Spanish supermarkets, retailing at much lower prices – despite the Valencia region having single-handedly supplied the entire country until now and millions of tonnes of fruit per year are still left to rot on the trees due to high labour costs and poor wholesale rates of pay.

Oranges from South Africa are only needed in Spain in summer, when local ones are not yet in season.

Some supermarkets who feel local farmers' pain have taken to underlining or highlighting 'Spain', 'Valencia' or 'national' on fruit-and-veg counter signs so customers know which oranges to buy to support the region's industry.