Even though Spain is officially the largest producer of fruit and vegetables in Europe, a walk through a Spanish supermarket tells a different story. The selection available is often limited, prices are rising, and much of the fruit and vegetables lack the taste and freshness consumers expect. By contrast, Algeria—just across the Mediterranean—is emerging as a vibrant, untapped source of high-quality, affordable, and flavorful fruit and vegetables.
In Algerian markets, the difference is immediately visible. Stalls overflow with tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, oranges, dates, watermelons, and leafy greens—all at prices far lower than their European counterparts. The choice is wider, the taste is better, and the freshness is unmatched. What's more, much of this fruit and these vegetables are grown using more traditional and natural methods, making them more appealing to health-conscious consumers.
Algeria's production of fruit and vegetables has tripled in the past decade, driven by a combination of favorable climate, fertile but underutilized land, and renewed national focus on agriculture. Yet despite this boom, Algeria's biggest challenge remains logistics. The country is not yet fully equipped for export—lacking the streamlined supply chain needed to move goods from field to cargo ship to European market quickly and efficiently. That, however, is starting to change.
European distributors are taking notice. With production costs rising in Spain and other parts of Europe, heads of major supermarket chains and sourcing offices are beginning to look southward.
Read more at International Supermarket News
