Pascual Cabedo, a farmer and founder of the EAP (Europe Agricult Product) platform, says Spanish onion producers receive as little as 9 cents per kilo while consumers often pay close to 2 euros per kilo in supermarkets. In a recent interview on Herrera en COPE, he said the price gap reflects a problem that extends beyond a single crop.
Spain’s farm-to-retail price debate is often tracked through the Índice de Precios en Origen y Destino de los Alimentos (IPOD), published by the agricultural organization COAG. It compares prices received by producers with those paid by consumers. The index has highlighted large gaps for onions, with similar discrepancies reported for garlic and potatoes. The figures are sector data, not official government statistics. Comparisons are most meaningful when the period and product grade match. Packaging and sales channel matter too.
Cabedo argues that the gap leaves many farmers unable to cover their costs, threatening the future of local agriculture. “For a farmer, onions only become profitable at 25 cents per kilo,” he explained. EAP guarantees payments above that threshold so growers are not forced to sell at a loss.
Direct Connection
EAP was created as an online supermarket designed to cut out unnecessary intermediaries between the field and the consumer. The platform offers only Spanish-grown produce and provides information about each product’s origin, including photos and stories about the farmers behind staples such as green beans and carrots. Its range also includes potatoes. Peppers and zucchini are among the other staples.
Direct-sale platforms can also show customers how much of a product’s price goes to the grower. Europa Agricult Product, for example, lists the farmer’s payment for celery as €0.90 per kilogram. Such itemized pricing makes producer remuneration more visible to consumers.
Cabedo says the project grew from the need for an alternative that guarantees both the Spanish origin of food and a fair price for producers. It also aims to highlight the value of agricultural work and remind consumers that every box of fresh produce supports farms that depend on dignified prices to survive.
Onion Prices Spark Debate
The price of Spanish onions has reignited a long-standing debate in the agricultural sector. Cabedo says onions fetch just 9 cents per kilo at the farm, while supermarket prices can approach 2 euros. EAP, by contrast, pays over 30 cents per kilo, a rate that makes cultivation sustainable for farmers.
Retail prices change over time: a Forbes España report on food-price movements recorded a 0.8% monthly fall in onion prices and a 9% year-on-year decline during its measurement period. The comparison shows why farm-gate and supermarket figures need to be tied to a specific date and product format.
A difference between farm and retail prices is not, by itself, the retailer’s profit. The final price can also reflect the costs of grading and packing, along with storage and transport. Losses and taxes add to it, as do wholesale handling and store operating costs. Cabedo says EAP “never” pays below cost. As a farmer himself, he says he knows where the line between profit and loss lies. The platform buys directly from producers and assembles orders for home delivery, without adding extra margins to transport costs.
Reaching Spanish Families
EAP’s growth has been rapid. Cabedo says the platform now serves 300,000 families and ships between 10,000 and 15,000 boxes of fresh food daily across Spain, excluding the Canary Islands. This scale allows EAP to fill entire trucks and handle large volumes of Spanish produce.
Cabedo cites the recent purchase of 25,000 kilos of onions from a single grower, now being distributed nationwide. Some consumers are hesitant to order fresh food online, he acknowledges, but says the produce arrives in good condition. If there is an issue, EAP sends a replacement box at no extra cost.
Shipping fees, he says, reflect only the real cost of transport. For families ordering 8 to 10 kilos or more, buying through EAP can be more affordable and convenient, especially for staples such as potatoes and onions.
The price gap between farm and supermarket is not unique to Spain, but remains a pressing issue for local producers. Initiatives such as EAP show how direct-to-consumer models can support farmers while giving shoppers greater transparency and value.
