Green bean cultivation has shrunk in Spain

The cultivation of green beans has been relegated to something "anecdotal", after becoming the second most important in the southeast of the country; Its future was distorted due to labor costs and, now, other crops are following in its footsteps while the sector saves seeds to revitalize its uses. High labor costs, competition with third countries and the ability to withstand the post-harvest period cause certain fruit and vegetable crops to see their number of hectares decrease. This is the case of the bean, a product that, in the opinion of the head of fruits and vegetables of the Coordinator of Farmers and Livestock Organizations (COAG), Andrés Góngora, has been relegated to an "anecdotal" production after reaching a strong presence in the 80s. According to the latest data available from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), the cultivation of green beans has gone from being present in 12,200 hectares throughout the country in 2009 to 7,272 hectares in 2022. ...