In Alicante, Farmers Rally for Fair Prices and Policy Reform

The countryside finds itself at a crossroads, with protests erupting across much of Spain this week, including Alicante. What lies behind this mobilization is worth understanding. While the protest signals farming communities’ dissatisfaction, the farmers’ concerns extend beyond a single issue. The core grievance is the persistently low prices for their products, often dipping below the cost of production, a gap that multiplies as food travels from rural markets to supermarkets. This dynamic helps explain why land has shed more than 61,000 hectares over the past two decades, underscoring a crisis that affects livelihoods, communities, and rural ecosystems alike.

Across major roads, tractor units have become the unexpected heroes of the week, especially in Alicante, where farmers frequently mobilize through social networks to spotlight their grievances. In response, associations such as AVA-Asaja, Asaja Alicante, COAG and La Unió are planning a large protest day on the 16th. The plan includes disrupting the A-7 near Orihuela and the A-31 at Villena. These actions cast a spotlight on the sector’s unrest and convey a clear message: farmers want changes that will raise profitability and restore fairness in the market.

One of the central requests directed at the national government concerns reform of the Food Chain Law. Enacted to ensure that farmers’ pay does not fall below the cost of production, the regulation has proven less effective in practice, particularly as costs rise due to higher water prices, wages, and other inputs. José Vicente Andreu, president of Asaja Alicante, notes that the law is not working as intended. Payments still arrive within 30 days, yet many actors in the chain continue to compensate farmers at prices that fail to cover production costs. Strengthened inspections are deemed essential to close the gaps in enforcement and ensure a fair return for growers.

Cauliflower harvest missions in Elche. Axel Alvarez

Vega illustrates the dilemma with lemons grown in Baja. “Producing them costs us 30 cents per pound, and at best they pay 17 cents,” he laments. The disparity is even more striking for the smallest citrus that can only be sold to processing plants; here, surplus crops have at times forced growers to pay crews to dispose of produce to protect the harvest for the next year. The result is a loss of soil health and a fragile foothold for the coming season.

The lemon scenario highlights a broader pattern: the cost from field to shelf, including handling and transport, can skyrocket while the farmer’s share remains lean. According to a price observatory managed by Asaja, lemons move from roughly 17 cents per tree to about 1.70 euros in shops, illustrating how much value is captured upstream in the supply chain.

Similar imbalances occur across other crops. The Mollar bomb, for instance, costs around 30 cents to produce and is paid about 35 cents, yet it can be sold for roughly 2 euros. Oranges reflect a parallel path, with production costs around 30 cents, a farmgate price close to 32 cents, and store prices near 1.89 euros. While yields rise on some crops, the gulf between field prices and supermarket prices remains wide. Broccoli, for example, costs farmers about 40 cents to grow but can fetch 92 cents in the market, with store prices reaching 2.70 euros. Cauliflower costs farmers 50 cents per head and earns 80 cents before selling for 1.99 euros. Artichoke production runs about 70 kuruş with 93 kuruş paid, while stores price them around 4 euros. This pattern of price differentials fuels considerable frustration among growers and traders alike.

As Roque Bru, a molar pomegranate producer from Elche, explains, the core issue is not merely the absolute prices but the escalating gap through the chain. “In previous years, we were paid 50 kuruş; this year it’s 35 kuruş due to heat affecting the fruit,” he notes. Yet the bigger pain is the price disparity between supermarkets and upstream buyers — a gap that can reach up to 400 percent. The path of this markup is not entirely visible, but its impact on farmers is undeniable, threatening the viability of many crops.

A woman buys fruits and vegetables from a stall in the Alicante Central Market Alex Dominguez

Pedro Reig, manager of the Association of Supermarkets of the Valencian Community, agrees that food chain laws must be observed and explains that farmers, processors, transporters, and distributors all participate in this complex conversion. He argues for a sustainable process where each link receives fair compensation, adding that data from the Ministry of Agriculture should be used to guide decisions. He also notes that sales margins in the food trading chain have fallen for two quarters, a consequence of the energy crisis that could not be reversed. Yet the same report shows agriculture returning to pre-pandemic levels in several areas.

Third World

Farmers, however, see the picture differently. They call for reciprocal terms in all EU trade agreements with third countries, citing unfair competition from imports that fail to meet their standards. La Unió’s general secretary Carles Peris stresses the need to counter this imbalance and to address the multi-faceted factors driving the sector toward a critical tipping point. The struggle encompasses calls for stronger phytosanitary measures for goods from outside the EU and a simpler digital logbook to cut red tape. Cauliflower grower Pedro Valera from Elche points out that the logbook has become a bureaucratic obstacle that many farmers struggle to navigate.

Over the years, these challenges have contributed to a noticeable contraction in Alicante’s cultivated area. In twenty years, 61,649 hectares have been lost, representing 28 percent of the total. Fruit trees account for significant losses, with less than 32,166 hectares remaining, followed by vineyards at 14,401 hectares, citrus at 10,178 hectares, and grain at 4,146 hectares. There is, however, a small rise in vegetable cultivation and olive groves, with 1,898 and 1,585 hectares respectively.

In Alicante, hydrological planning and steady water supply for irrigation are paramount. The Tajo-Segura transfer remains a focal point as Asaja calls on the regional government to reform policies to combat xylellosis in almonds, preferring containment strategies to eradication. Cherry producers also seek relief after severe losses from a string of challenging campaigns, underscoring how water and disease pressures compound the industry’s difficulties.