The Government is launching a safety device for next season
Spain: Table grape season under surveillance

The objective is to prevent crop theft and eliminate illegal distribution channels

The regional and local police, with the logistical support of aircraft, will monitor fields in Alicante, to mark the start of the harvesting campaign.

The target of the preventive security device is to avoid crop theft and remove illegal channels of distribution, as has been explained today by the Minister of the Interior, Serafin Castellano, and the owner autonomic Agriculture, Maritina Hernandez.

Both members of the Consell met today in Hondon de las Nieves (Alicante) with the mayors of municipalities of Vinalopó Mitjà and L'Alacantí, and representatives of the agricultural organizations and cooperatives.

Castellano has noted that "one of the main priorities of the Government is to ensure the well being of the Valencian field, source of wealth for the Region".

For his part, Hernandez said that the main objective of this action is "to face a situation that generates serious security problems" and that "directly affects the profitability of agricultural activity "in an area offering" a differentiated and highly appreciated product by the consumer".

The Councillor added that this prevention campaign ranges from proactive monitoring to the field until the arrival of the product to their sale point, so "we can detect and detain illegal items before they can reach the consumer".

To this end, both have indicated that there will be Government and local police
coordination backed up by air, during night and day.

This safety device will be activated in the fields of the regions of l'Alacantí and Vinalopó Mitjà until December 31st, when the harvest campaign finishes. This production is mainly consumed in Christmas.

Source: Lasprovincias