89,000 tons of Girona apples are harvested in three months and eaten all year round.

Torroella de MontgríThe apple is the most emblematic crop in the Girona regions. In the fields of Empordà and Gironès, thousands of tons of multiple varieties are harvested each season, which, under the protected geographical indication (PGI) of Manzana de Girona, are sold year-round in supermarkets throughout Catalonia. There are more than 2,000 hectares of perfectly aligned rows of apple trees that outline the pre-coastal landscape of the region, a few kilometers from the sea, at the foot of Montgrí, but also further north, in Sant Pere Pescador and all its surroundings. The harvest season is concentrated from mid-August to November, and throughout this period, the farmers, along with Nearly 2,000 seasonal workers are moving to the area, work hard to fulfill orders. In just three and a half months, they must harvest the entire amount of fruit sold during the year. So, They store it in chambers with a pioneering conservation system The Poma de Girona designation brings together three large companies under a single label, each of which works with around thirty local producers. They are Giro Poma, in Ullà; Girona Fruits, in Bordils; and Frutícula Empordà, in Sant Pere Pescador. Together, they represent the main agricultural activity in the region. By 2025, they forecast a total production of more than 89,000 tons, 10% less than the previous year, which was one of the best in history, but in line with the average of the last five years. This volume represents approximately one-third of the total production of Catalonia, which, outside the Girona region, is concentrated mainly in the lands of Lleida, and a quarter of the production of all of Spain. Girona farmers, who collaborate with the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) to improve sustainability and efficiency, grow a dozen different varieties, but only five have the PGI: the plump, yellowish-green Golden; the crunchy, reddish Gala; the deep green, more acidic Granny Smith; and the plump, very sweet Red Delicious.

Antifreeze and oxygen-controlled refrigeration chamber

Manzana de Girona exports a quarter of its production abroad, primarily to Europe, and the remainder is sold in Catalonia and the rest of Spain. Of the local business, 90% is based on distribution to large retailers such as supermarkets or centers like Mercabarna, which demand a consistent production of quality fruit from the Girona region throughout the twelve months of the year. Hence, the refrigeration system used by PGI companies, without which it would be impossible to sell boxes of apples during non-harvest months, is key to meeting this annual demand. It involves an advanced fruit respiration control system that regulates oxygen and temperature between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius in the cold storage, uses antifreeze, and allows the fruit to be preserved practically from one year to the next. "Just as they come from the field, they go into the refrigerator, with regulated oxygen, so when you take the apple out in May and oxygen enters it, it begins to regenerate again and looks like it was freshly picked," explains Jaume Armengol, a producer from Sant Pere Pescador and president of Poma de Girona.

Anti-stone netsto ensure annual production

To ensure the annual production agreed upon in advance with large retailers, in addition to conservation, prevention against potential setbacks such as pests or inclement weather is also essential. Therefore, in recent years, all Girona producers have invested heavily in installing anti-rock nets, which are placed after flowering in spring and folded back once the harvest is complete. This is how David Casadellà, who has 90 hectares spread across different municipalities in the Baix Empordà, explains its effects: "If we couldn't guarantee 75% of the fruit, we would lose supermarket customers, who are currently the only ones supporting the business. So, with our own funds, we have installed all the nets that protect us." He adds: "We have also realized that they protect us from the north wind that knocks our apples to the ground, or from the scratches caused by the wind on our skin."

Having a stable and solvent client provides a certain stability to the Girona apple farmers, who value this situation very positively, especially in a world of uncertainty and unforeseen events like that of the peasantry. However, they clarify: "We can't complain, but it's not easy, because if we want to play in the first division, it means we must have a very high level of investment, and we have achieved a level of professionalism that was unthinkable 30 or 40 years ago, since before, people also had farms or worked with cereals or peaches, while now most of us dedicate ourselves exclusively to the House."

Fewer pesticides and more water savings

As a result of this professionalization and close work with scientists and agricultural technicians, in recent years Girona farmers have drastically reduced the use of herbicides and chemical fertilizers to combat insect and fungal pests, which are now being combated with biological systems. Furthermore, following the recent extreme drought, which significantly reduced water supplies for cropsThe PGI has implemented innovative systems to improve water consumption. Drip irrigation has been implemented, which has reduced water consumption by 30% compared to traditional irrigation, and the Giro Reg system is also being implemented, which saves an additional 30% by calculating the strictly necessary irrigation flows based on rainfall data and weather forecasts.