The new TROPS facilities will allow “the Portuguese subsidiary to calibrate and package fruit, making the Algarve warehouse a strategic location.” In the past, the Tavira’s building served as a “reception point for fruit from national producers”, receiving the products sent to Malaga, in Spain. Right now, the avocados can be processed in Portugal.

With new machinery and a more robotic working system, the new centre has “a total area of 7,195 m2”, and it is the result of an expansion that started in 2020. According to TROPS, the new infrastructures allow Portugal to have a complete “logistics and production cycle”; this way, the “efficiency, sustainability and competitiveness of the Portuguese fruit sector” will be reinforced.

TROPS aims to be closer to the “Portuguese farmers, guaranteeing them support at all stages of their production cycle.” This way, the agricultural company wants to “offer members a comprehensive model covering production, organisation and marketing, with a strong emphasis on quality, sustainability and technological innovation”, as described in a press release.

José Linares, president of TROPS, says that TROPS “deeply believe in the agricultural potential of southern Portugal and the value of its producers. This investment represents more than a physical expansion; it is a firm step in consolidating TROPS.” The president also shares that he wants to grow along with the Portuguese farmers, “guaranteeing them a fair and sustainable marketing channel.”


Víctor Luque, Managing Director of TROPS, says that the “inauguration is a strategic milestone for TROPS.” According to him, quoted in the press release, the new investment reinforces the company’s commitment to “innovation, sustainability and the growth of national production.” Luque highlights that, the new centre will be a way of “contributing to the economic and social development of Tavira and the eastern Algarve.”

The inauguration

The ceremony of inauguration of the new TROPS centre happened on 18 June, and had the presence of the President, Ana Martins, and the Vice-President of Tavira, Eurico Palma. GNR officers and firefighter personnel were also present.

The invited people visited the new facilities, getting to know the new machinery and understanding how the new processes will now be held. The new centre will allow the entrance of a greater number of avocados, from the smallest to the biggest producers.

Credits: TPN; Author: Bruno G. Santos;

To the journalists, Ana Martins, President of Tavira, was proud of what the municipality had achieved. Although the municipality is “extremely dependent on tourism,”, according to Ana Martins. The investment in agriculture will benefit the municipality, believes the mayor. Besides the drought felt last year, the mayor is confident with the future, adding that the agriculture sector “is increasingly using water more efficiently.” The TROPS’ investment in Tavira, in Ana Martins' opinion, is very important and allows to “diversify the economic panorama and be less dependent on tourism.”

Requires more space

The mayor has also mentioned that she was present when, in 2021, TROPS opened the first warehouse in Tavira and now, after the works made, Ana Martins was told that the space is already too small. This way, the company has bought another lot and it is planning another investment in new facilities.

Author

Currently, the Deputy Editor at The Portugal News, Bruno G. Santos, is really interested in national politics. With a degree in Journalism and Communication, he also loves to write about different topics like Portuguese culture, society and other current affairs. Press card: 8463. 

Bruno G. Santos