In the last decades, Altean farmers have gradually abandoned their lands due to three major factors, all three of the related to the economy: demand of land for real estate, low agricultural product profitability and lack of incentives for new generations of farmers.
The Agricultural Council is aware of how important it is to protect the environment, the landscape and the local economy. That is why it aims to support and promote all activities related to the sale of agricultural products.
In accordance, the Agricultural Council, with the support and co-funding from the Foundation for Biodiversity, is launching an innovative project that is new in Spain: TU MATEIX (PICK YOUR OWN). This initiative aims to stimulate and render profitable the agricultural activity in the town, to boost the consumption of local products and to protect the municipality’s cultural and natural resources with a very exciting project that involves all the population, including tourists.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The TU MATEIX ( PICK YOUR OWN) Project, Involves the direct selling of fresh products right on the field where they are grown, by paying a just price and avoiding middlemen. This way we achieve:
- The maximum freshness of the product.
- Freedom of choice.
- Lack of middlemen. Direct selling = (more affordable price for the costumer and larger profit for the producer).
- An Exciting and amusing activity that brings us back to a direct contact with nature (agrotourism).
This form of direct selling, also called “pick your own”, is very common in the European Union, the US and Canada.
WHAT ARE WE AIMING AT?
- Protection of the rural environment and the scenery.
- Maintenance of our gardens.
- Stimulation of local economy.
- Making use of the surplus of “family gardening production”.
- Increase the profits of farmers and highlight the beauty of this profession
- Preservation of Altea’s natural beauty by helping to reduce urbanization.
- Promoting another type of tourism alternative to the “sun and beach tourism”.
- Promote locally farmed products.
WHAT WILL WE ACHIEVE?
We aim to put an end to the gradual abandonment of agricultural activity that has been taking place in the municipality due to its low profit margins. We will do this by supporting local farmers and promoting the consumption of locally grown products, by favouring the conservation of our natural environment, by launching a new alternative to traditional “sun and beach tourism”, by providing the costumer with an opportunity to get some fun quality time with the family by taking part in an open air activity that allows the customer to be in contact with nature, to choose the fruits and vegetables that best suit their preferences and do so with an unbeatable price.
PARTICIPATING FARMS
SAINT CLOUD FARM
Ptda: Barranquet 98. Phone: 607805153
Owner: Vincent Sanchez Zaragozí.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am to 7pm
Products: Lemons Berne, Loquats Algar (Algar Nisperos), Valencia Late Oranges, Honey and household products.
(IMAGENES 15/05/2009)
FINCA RABASA:
Avenida Juan Alvados s / n. Phone: 639617022
Resonsible person: Pepe Ripoll Beneito
Hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday from 17:00 h. 20:00 pm
Products: Vegetables and Late Valencian Oranges .(imagenes 15/05/2009)
