The Vega Baja del Segura region, which divides the Spanish provinces of Murcia and Alicante, is one of the best growing areas for aromatic herbs. While parsley, coriander, mint, spinach, chard, and dill are regularly consumed in the rest of Europe, this is not the case in Spain, where, apart from parsley, this range of flavors and aromas is not commonly used in cooking.
That is why "we only sell 5% of our production in Spain, with the rest going mainly to the United Kingdom and Germany," says José María Artero, manager of Solherbs. "Other destinations we also work with are France, Portugal, Poland, Ukraine, and Norway."
The Murcia-based company, headed by Artero, started eight years ago with mint cultivation and, in 2024, according to its manager, they managed to "deliver around 33,000 pallets of aromatic herbs. We currently produce the main ones, such as parsley, coriander, spinach, chard, and dill, as well as others, like methi, purslane, mallow, thyme, rosemary, and even nettle," he says.
"In winter, we grow in the Vega Baja del Segura area and the Campo de Cartagena; in summer, in higher areas, such as Albacete, where we manage to obtain the same quality. That is why Spanish aromatic herbs are also gaining ground in Europe in summer," says the manager.
The fact is that, in Germany, fewer and fewer producers are willing to grow aromatic herbs that are harvested in summer. "While costs have risen in Spain, they have risen even more in Germany, which I think is why aromatic herb plantations are losing ground there," says the manager.
"Our exports have grown rapidly because we are directly supplying those who package aromatic herbs for supermarkets," says Artero.
"What sets us apart from other countries is that we can deliver a fresh, high-quality product to European markets every day. Customers know they are paying for a top-quality, freshly cut product, as our herbs are grown both in greenhouses and in the open ground, and reach their destination within two or three days," says the manager.
For more information:
Francisco García
Solherbs S.L.U.
Tel.: +34 634 06 83 12
[email protected]
www.solherbs.es