Almería greenhouse belt, Spain
Europe's 'Sea of Plastic' winter vegetable producer
The Almería province of southeastern Spain hosts one of the most extensive concentrations of greenhouse vegetable production in the world — visible from space as a vast white expanse of plastic-covered structures nicknamed 'the Sea of Plastic.' The region's mild winter climate…
About almería
The Almería province of southeastern Spain hosts one of the most extensive concentrations of greenhouse vegetable production in the world — visible from space as a vast white expanse of plastic-covered structures nicknamed 'the Sea of Plastic.' The region's mild winter climate, abundant solar radiation, and proximity to European markets combined with the development of plastic-greenhouse (not heated glass) production has made Almería the dominant winter vegetable supplier for Northern European supermarkets. The greenhouses are mostly low-tech plastic-clad structures rather than the high-tech Dutch glasshouse model — but the warmer climate means heating isn't required, and the production economics work at lower technology levels. Key crops include tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, watermelons, and leafy greens. The labor force is largely Moroccan and Sub-Saharan African migrant workers, and the labor conditions have been documented repeatedly as poor — low wages, irregular employment, substandard housing in informal settlements. Water access is a chronic concern; the region's aquifers are stressed and over-pumped. The trade-off between European winter vegetable affordability and Almería labor and environmental conditions is one of the more uncomfortable conversations in European food politics.
Origin profile
Varieties from Almería greenhouse belt, Spain
7 varieties associated with this origin. Tap any variety for its full editorial profile.
Editorial notes
Almería is the cheap winter vegetable that European consumers see in their supermarkets, and the documented labor and environmental conditions that produce it. Investigations by El País, The Guardian, and various NGOs have repeatedly surfaced the gap between the produce on supermarket shelves and the conditions under which it's grown and harvested. The conversation about ethical sourcing in European fresh vegetables runs through Almería repeatedly. The economic logic — affordable winter vegetables for Northern Europe — has built and sustained the industry against periodic reform efforts.