In the heart of Almería, the agricultural cooperative CASI has built a reputation as one of Europe’s leading suppliers of fresh tomatoes, especially during the months when much of the continent’s outdoor production is limited by cold weather. The region’s position reflects its geography and protected cultivation, along with irrigation infrastructure and growers’ ability to adapt to local conditions.
Founded in 1944, CASI brings together more than 1,700 growers and manages nearly 1,900 hectares of greenhouses. Its focus is the tomato, a crop that benefits from Almería’s mild winters and abundant sunlight. Provincial figures published by Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food show the scale of the wider sector: in 2025, tomatoes covered 8,170 hectares across Almería, of which 8,158 hectares were under protected cultivation and 12 hectares outdoors. The province produced 750,017 tonnes that year. These are province-wide figures, not CASI production totals, and they illustrate how heavily Almería’s tomato supply depends on greenhouses.
Winter Sun, Year-Round Harvest
Almería’s climate is an impressive advantage, but year-round supply also depends on protected structures and drip irrigation, as well as the timing of crops in different parts of the province. The Ministry’s 2025 figures put average productivity for protected tomatoes at 91,853 kilograms per hectare, compared with 56,883 kilograms per hectare outdoors. Luis Miguel Fernández, manager of the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organisations of Almería (Coexphal), has described drip irrigation as basic to maintaining production through the year. Greenhouses are concentrated particularly in western Almería and the Campo de Níjar area, while local monitoring records different stages of the crop cycle across the province: early varieties may already be harvested in one area as greenhouse picking begins in another.
The greenhouse field has also been linked to a local cooling effect. A 2008 study reported a surface-temperature cooling trend of about 0.3°C per decade between 1983 and 2006, associated in part with the increased reflectivity of greenhouse roofs. As the season shifts and conditions vary across the province, production in different locations and cultivation systems helps sustain successive harvest periods and supply to European markets.
The Role of Saline Water
One of the less obvious features of Almería’s tomato production is water management. Irrigation may involve water with some salinity, while growers use cultivation practices adapted to the region’s arid conditions. The traditional enarenado system places sand over organic matter, helping conserve water and manage salinity. Agronomists have also noted trade-offs: long-term reliance on the system has contributed to the decline of some traditional soil practices, including ploughing and turning. Within this production system, slower growth and a longer winter ripening period can allow sugars and aromas to concentrate, contributing to the more intense flavor associated with some Almería tomatoes.
This is particularly true of prized varieties such as the Raf tomato, whose reputation is associated with saline growing conditions and slow winter maturation. CASI cultivates more than 25 types, from classic salad and pear tomatoes to specialties. Beefsteak and pink varieties are among them. The range also includes black and chocolate tomatoes, alongside cherry and yellow varieties. Each offers different characteristics for consumer preferences and culinary uses.
Water remains a structural constraint for the region’s horticulture, despite the efficiency of drip irrigation. Pressure on aquifers is among the sector’s sustainability challenges, and COAG Almería has called for improvements to the Carboneras desalination plant. The organization has said proposed upgrades could raise desalinated-water production to about 51 cubic hectometres. Water security and greenhouse-plastic waste are among the wider issues shaping the sector’s future, alongside labor and housing conditions.
Why Supermarket Tomatoes Often Disappoint
Despite Almería’s reputation for flavorful produce, many consumers find that supermarket tomatoes lack taste. Agricultural engineer and CASI deputy technical director Federico Castellón says commercial priorities help explain the difference, alongside origin and greenhouse cultivation. Retailers often select varieties bred for durability and shelf life, favoring tomatoes that withstand transport and time on display. Those with the best flavor may have a shorter window of peak freshness, making them less suited to large-scale distribution.
Storage at home also matters. Premium tomatoes, especially those grown for flavor, are best kept out of the refrigerator in a cool, shaded spot, where their aroma and texture are better preserved. Serving methods can improve the experience, too: Raf tomatoes are often cut into wedges with olive oil and salt, while pink tomatoes can be sliced thinly and paired with cheese or anchovies.
Almería’s Place in Spain’s Tomato Heritage
The story of Almería’s tomatoes is part of a broader Spanish tradition of agricultural new idea and adaptation. While the province has become synonymous with winter production, other regions have also contributed to the country’s tomato culture. Efforts to revive historic varieties, such as the Soria tomato brought back by a farmer in Palencia, highlight the diversity and ability to recover of Spain’s growers. This revival of century-old seeds reflects the ongoing search for flavor and quality in Spanish tomatoes.
Almería’s tomato industry depends on a careful balance: using the region’s climate, managing limited water resources and responding to changing European consumer demand. The system is productive but vulnerable. Flooding has affected around 130 hectares of greenhouses in a reported incident, with initial agricultural losses estimated at nearly €3.9 million. Water shortages and storms can disrupt supply, as can damage to greenhouse infrastructure. Almería’s winter role rests on strong structural advantages, alongside the continuing challenge of protecting the resources and infrastructure on which production depends.
