Sustainable Food

The facility was presented in a ceremony with representatives from Barcelona City Council and the farmers’ trade union, Unió de Pagesos de Catalunya, the organisations behind Terra Pagesa. Representing the City Council was the Councillor for Commerce, Restaurants and Markets and councillor delegate for the Analysis of Metropolitan Policies from the AMB, Raquel Gil, while the trade union was represented by its national coordinator,Joan Caball.

Also speaking at the ceremony were representatives from other bodies collaborating in the project: the Secretary General of the Ministry for Agriculture, Livestock, Fishing and Food, Cristina Massot, the Deputy Delegate for Commerce and Consumer Affairs with Barcelona Provincial Council, Olga Serra and Lídia Redón, Deputy Director General and Director of Corporate Services with Mercabarna.

A step forward for small producers and local commerce

“Today we celebrate a step forward with the inauguration of this space, which should improve the capacity to respond to the needs of small producers and local commerce”, noted Councillor Raquel Gil in her speech. “If we talk about building a more sustainable food system, we know this clearly involves addressing the needs of small and medium scale farming”, added Gil, also noting that “the fundamental role of small commerce and municipal markets, spaces which not only give life to the neighbourhoods but constitute places for social cohesion and creating community”.

“The space we are inaugurating today must not only facilitate the distribution of quality local seasonal produce, but also help strengthen the value chain that returns dignity and equity to producers and the food we consume. At the same time, it must help establishments to offer more sustainable food, helping to make our food system more resilient”, stated the Councillor.

The launch of the logistics centre gives Terra Pagesa control over the operations of reception, refrigeration and grouping together orders, at the same time offering a physical space where deliveries can be made to purchasers in situ. The location of the facility within the Biomarket hall also adds significant strategic value as it facilitates considerably the connection and logistics between Terra Pagesa and retailers, producers and cooperatives operating at there.

About Terra Pagesa

Terra Pagesa was started in 2021 to provide a connection between small and medium scale farming around Catalonia and retailers, stallholders in municipal markets and the restaurant sector in the province of Barcelona.

Between January and October 2024 alone, Terra Pagesa fulfilled a total of 1,762 orders, representing 88,742 kg of produce managed (mainly fruit and vegetables) and an economic value of 129,844 euros for producers. Organic produce accounts for 63% of this volume.

Today the initiative has 53 affiliated producers able to supply 43 retailers and three businesses in the restaurant sector, which in turn feed 48 schools located all around the province of Barcelona.