Foolish Farming
Demand for out of season produce contributing to water shortages
Nicknamed 'the vegetable garden of Europe', the Almeria region of Spain grows a huge proportion of Europe's produce in all seasons. This intensive agriculture has exacerbated existing water shortages.
In Almeria, the seedless watermelon is one of many popular out-of-season fruits. Victor Gonzalez, spokesperson for one producer, observes: 'it seems that consumption is more and more out of season'. This trend is impacting water levels and quality, due to Almeria's proximity to the sea. Environmental researcher Rafael Baeza explains: 'when the water table went below sea level, salt water infiltrated it from the outer edges'.
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