In a vast sea of plastic greenhouses in southeastern Spain, dubbed "Europe's vegetable garden", discontent is growing among farmers who complain large supermarket chains do not pay enough and farm workers live in poverty.
Since the 1980s, one of the largest concentrations of greenhouses in the world has developed on a coastal plain near the city of Almeria, spanning over 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) in a "sea of plastic" seen from space.
The region is so dry and barren that it was used to film dozens of "spaghetti western" films in the 1960s, but with the advent of hydroponic systems that drip-feed fertilisers into grow-bags, it now produces several tonnes of fruits and vegetables annually.
After decades of rapid development, export growth has stalled and growing numbers of people question the viability of this agricultural model.
"We produce over 65 percent of the tomatoes, 80 percent of the cucumbers and 94 percent of the eggplants sold in Europe," said Francisco Vargas, the head of the ASAJA young farmers' association.
"But look at the prices we are paid. They are below production costs."
He blames a war between large retailers who try to hold on to clients by offering the lowest possible prices.
