"It is a wholesale market where you can find everything. This time of year, 90% of the produce comes from Spain, but you can also find products from Morocco and apples, kiwis and radishes from Italy," explains an Italian operator who has just got back from a visit to Barcelona's Mercabarna (Mercados de Abastecimientos de Barcelona SA).
"The market is open between 9 am and 4 pm and serves Barcelona and its province as well as Europe and the rest of the world. It practically works for many other markets such as Perpignan in France."
"I have been told that a lot of Moroccan products such as tomatoes, peppers (even the California type) and early melons are now available, but there is also a lot of exotic and counterseasonal fruit - for example I have seen many watermelons from Costa Rica."
"50% of the work carried out at the Barcelona wholesale market is done with foreign markets. The situation is very different from ours in Italy, as we tend to be producers rather than traders."
