San Crispín visits an agroecological cooperative in Granada to learn about its model of working with farms and local products

At San Crispín, we have long been clear about the direction we want to take, with the aim of being increasingly closer to farms and producers, not only as a point of sale but as an active part of a fairer, more local and more territorially connected food system.

With this goal in mind, on March 26 we took part in a series of sessions in Granada, where we were able to learn first-hand about the work of Valle y Vega, an agroecological cooperative that has become a benchmark model in short supply chains. The visit allowed us to analyse the evolution of a project born from the desire to join forces among producers and build a stronger, more efficient shared structure.

With 12 active members and a network of collaborators, Valle y Vega has consolidated a model based on proximity, trust and direct contact with farms. A project that places the relationship between producers and consumers at its core, demonstrating that sustainability also means ensuring the economic viability of the primary sector.

Their model is rooted in a bold decision, to stop competing among producers in order to join forces and build a shared structure. With a small core of members and a network of collaborators, they have developed a project based on trust, direct relationships with farms and a carefully managed organisation, both economically and operationally.

Beyond the model itself, what we take away is a way of working. Direct contact with producers, trust, involvement in management and the ability to constantly adapt to challenges. These are elements that strongly resonate with our own understanding of the role of a cooperative.

This experience reinforces a line of work that is becoming increasingly central to us. Standing alongside Menorca’s farms, listening to their needs and actively helping bring their products to market under fair conditions. We believe that bringing the field closer to the table is not just a matter of logistics, but a commitment to the territory and to the people who make it possible.