The Association of Strawberry Producers and Exporters in Huelva (Freshuelva) has urged the Spanish government to raise the quotas for seasonal workers from Morocco and Latin America under the country-of-origin contracting system (GECCO Order), to meet labor demands for the upcoming red fruit season. The request was made during a meeting between Freshuelva representatives and Santiago Yerga, Director General of Migration Management at the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration. Producers warned that the sector is facing a serious labor shortage that threatens its competitiveness in European markets. They underscored that the GECCO system, now marking its 25th anniversary, is based on the principle of circular migration, allowing workers to return to their home countries after seasonal contracts and come back the following season. The association stressed the need to expand the number of Moroccan workers, along with those from Latin American countries, to complement the Spanish and European workforce. They argued that such measures are vital to tackling one of the key challenges the industry will face in the upcoming season.
