Agricultural cooperative.


Can anyone tell me what it costs to join an agricultural cooperative?

And what (if any) are the benefits of doing this?

We have olives and carobs – at the moment just going to sell them for cash … has anyone the latest cash prices?

Sue

I think its about 400 euros a year but it varies from one agricole to another, but I think they apply for your grants so you may break even, and If they have a large almacen store you get discount on your chemicals fertilizer and goods

I think you'll also find there's an age limit when you can join, I was told 40, but thats Gandesa.
Terry.

As most of the Catalan youngsters wouldn't even entertain working on the land for a pittance, I presume the the age limit starts at 40 and goes on till you die shaking an olive or two.LOL ;D ;D

HI. NO I believe that is the cut off age, but dont take my word for it, just a friend of ours who was in the local Co-op told us.
Terry.

That's ageism never get away with that in the UK you know!!

Has no one told the Gandesians Life Begins at Forty!! ::) ::)

wrote on Nov 2^nd, 2010 at 7:31am:

That's ageism never get away with that in the UK you know!! Has no one told the Gandesians Life Begins at Forty!! ::) ::)

oh no  ;D i pasted the age of 40 a longggggggggg time ago i am now waiting for my life to restart again as soon as i can sell one or two houses  ;D

We recently joined Sol d'Ebre.  They charge according to the size of your finca and number of trees in production.  They do not have an age limit for joining.  Why would they? After all we are the ones paying them money.

Hi can any one tell me where sol d E,bre are located as i would interested in visiting them,Thanks.

If you are coming from Camarles down the N340 turn right in L'Aldea towards Tortosa go down the dual carriage way into tortosa town at the roundabout after Carrefor and McDonalds turn left and go over the Millenium Bridge on the other side turn right on the C12 signposted Mora and Gandesa at the first roundabout turn Left and Sol D Ebre is facing you you can't miss it!!

Does that mean its in where Lums,pots etc are ?

Yes its the same roundabout as Pots Pinturas, Cymo, and Yuka and LLums Gaudy Light Emporium

If you go round the warehouse at the rear they sell seedlings for potting on such as Tomatoes, courgettes, peppers sweetcorn and salad veg etc at reasonable prices and potting compost in large bags much cheaper than the supermarkets and garden centres.

Thanks Hazelnut great  that I won't be driving around like a thick looking for it.,
                     

So if you are over 40 you can't join the co-op at Gandesa? If thats the case how do us oldies who are still to move over full time expected to make a wage from our crops?

It seems ridiculous that we can't get rid of our crops. and I can't beleive it's the case everywhere. I'm near Gandesa but idon't want to travel all the way to Tortosa, where on earth can I go?

There must be loads of people in this position. I might as well just chop my trees down for firewood.

Sensible answers only please guys. This is not something I want to hear having just spent seven years paying for my land only to find I may not be able to sell my produce! :'(

Hi John. I'm sorry to disillusion you but at 33 cents a kilo you'd do best to chop them down, at least you'll keep warm in the winter, olive wood burns great, unless of course you'v got thousands of trees.
Terry.

It's sweet almonds I have mainly just a couple of olive trees for personal use. What is the price of almonds these days?

You don't need to be a member of the cooperativa to sell almonds. There are various places that will buy them off you. I heard there was somewhere in Vilalba but you will need to ask about to find out. I have no idea what the price is at the moment but it will be a matter of 40 cents absolute max per kilo and you might want to check what others are getting so you don't get ripped off. Some of the buyers want de-husked nuts ( in shell of course ) but it is very time consuming to de-husk them all by hand without the small machine that the locals use. Anyway, you have plenty of time to check it all out as your almonds won't be ripe until late summer! All the best!

We have just taken some of last years almonds (de husked) in and got 50 cents a kilo at Ravel De Cristo, you just need your NIE to be able to sell them

I've seen small quantities successfully de-husked by chucking them in a cement mixer.  Bit slow but easier than by hand.

whats the ratio to cement? and do you put the water in first or halfway through

Now we know why they don't send donkeys to college.

If they did,Steve would be redundant.

wrote on Apr 16^th, 2011 at 4:10pm:

Some of the buyers want de-husked nuts ( in shell of course ) but it is very time consuming to de-husk them all by hand without the small machine that the locals use.

Do you know what these machines are called perchance? Or maybe where we could get one and what sort of prices they are?

When I move over I plan to get my crops in even if they don't make much. I'll use them as animal feed if nothing else just to save money.

On the subject of machinary, does anybody know of where to buy a cheap hammer mill for pulverising olives prior to pressing?

Thanks in advance. John.

The Machine is called Peladora de Almendras, see link below if you have €1100 to spare

http://tiendaagricola.com/Peladoras-de-Almendras/

I have one of these machines that I inherited with our house.  Its electric and quite effective, although I don't think it would pass many health and safety checks.  I need it about four days every year when I dehusk about a ton and a half of almonds.  When the almonds are ready and I'm not using it, I would be prepared to let people have use of it. For a small price of course (Bottle of wine or two) I live close to Tortosa.  Bill H