Best Fresh Fruit Producer 2026 & Excellence Award for Unique & Natural Product Varieties 2026

Feb 4, 2026 - 18:00

Spain is the largest producer of fruit and vegetables in Europe, and the fifth largest worldwide. The province of Huelva in Andalusia is a key player in this space, accounting for almost 77% of the country’s red fruit exports and even achieving the historic milestone of 1.101 billion euros in sales throughout the first seven months of 2024. At the forefront of this thriving sector is Frutas Borja, a leading producer of fresh fruit in Huelva with a longstanding legacy of excellence in the agricultural field. We spoke to Commercial Manager Luisa Gadea for more information, as Frutas Borjas is named in the Spanish Business Awards 2026.

Combining traditional agricultural wisdom with innovative cultivation techniques, Frutas Borja is a family-owned produce company representing three generations of passion for growing exceptional fruit. The company was established in 1975 by Antonio Borja Perales and, with deep roots in Spanish agriculture, its legacy has been continued by sons Luís, Juan, and Mario. Today, Frutas Borjas stands as a trusted partner to retailers and distributors seeking premium berries that stand out in competitive markets.

Focusing on the cultivation of fresh berries, namely strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, Frutas Borja leverages more than four decades of agricultural and commercial knowledge to serve a global clientele. Its customers include supermarkets, specialty stores, and retail outlets across Europe, as well as wholesale fruit distributors operating within both national and international markets. Through rigorous cultivation control and selection processes, the company guarantees fresh and tasty fruit truly deserving of the Excellence Award for Unique and Natural Product Varieties 2026.

“Our main mission is to produce and market fresh fruit of the highest quality, especially red fruits,” Luisa told us, “guaranteeing flavour, freshness, and food safety while working responsibly with the environment and the people who are part of our value chain. Our greatest achievement to date is to have consolidated a decades-long history in the sector, maintaining the trust of national and international customers without losing our values or our agricultural roots.”

Frutas Borja offers a comprehensive from-field-to-fork service model that allows it to retain complete control over its product range. This service entails professional cultivation and harvesting practices, regulated with thorough quality control at every stage of the process. After harvest, the fruit undergoes proper handling and packaging to preserve its outstanding qualities, before efficient logistics distribution ensures that the product arrives at its destination in optimal condition.

To guarantee the highest standards of quality and service, Frutas Borja deploys a number of forward-thinking initiatives across its daily operations. This includes maintaining exhaustive control of the crop, ensuring the application of good agricultural practices and sustainable techniques; carefully selecting and harvesting the product at its optimum point of ripeness; promoting efficient handling and packaging processes to preserve the quality and freshness of the produce; and prioritising customer orientation by adapting to the needs of each market whilst delivering a reliable and punctual service.

“What sets Frutas Borja apart from other companies in the industry is our combination of experience, direct process control, and constant commitment to quality,” said Luisa. “We don’t just market fruit; we grow, care for, and deliver it, controlling every stage from the field to the end customer. Customers know that they can trust Frutas Borja because we deliver what we promise, season after season, offering fresh, safe fruit to the quality demanded by the market.”

Being based in Andalusia has presented significant advantages for Fruta Borja; the region maintains exceptional climate conditions for agriculture and agribusiness – characterised by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters – and boasts a high specialisation in fresh produce, specifically in the production of red fruits. What’s more, Andalusia also possesses vast export and agricultural expertise, with a logistics infrastructure strategically positioned to serve Europe and the largest agri-food sector in Spain.

The region’s agricultural specification has had a significant impact on Frutas Borja’s operations, enabling it to leverage numerous advancements. This includes the use of efficient irrigation technologies, such as humidity sensors and water control systems; the digitalisation of production and planning to improve crop management; a region-wide commitment to sustainable practices, including biological pest control and the reduction of chemical inputs; and an emphasis on origin, further positioning regional produce – particularly the red fruits of Huelva – as a quality and reliable product across Europe.

Beyond its location, Frutas Borja’s sustained success is equally driven by its exceptional team, who work in close collaboration with honesty, transparency, and quality at the forefront of their operations. “Frutas Borja’s internal culture is based on commitment, teamwork, and respect for people,” Luisa stated. “We are a company with familial and agricultural roots, where individual responsibility, experience, and collaboration between all departments are valued, and every employee understands how their role contributes to the final result.”

To ensure that its team continues to offer the best possible service, Frutas Borja provides each employee with initial training adapted to their specific position, complemented by continuous training aligned with good agricultural and handling practices, food safety, and risk prevention. Practical learning is promoted across departments, combining hands-on experience with continuous improvement to facilitate comprehensive development, with team leaders providing daily supervision and support in compliance with industry standards.

Close market observation is integral to this approach, enabling the team to remain at the forefront of industry advancement and regulatory changes. The company has noted a number of current trends reshaping the red fruit and fresh agriculture sector, including a global demand for cost optimisation and efficiency that has been fuelled by rising prices in energy, transportation, and labour. At the same time, markets are calling for varietal innovation, seeking out fruits with better flavour, longer shelf-lives, and better logistical behaviour.

There is now greater demand for companies that can guarantee ultimate quality and food safety in their products, with stricter controls enforced alongside calls for total product traceability. In parallel, markets are increasingly prioritising sustainability in agriculture, including the reduction of water usage, phytosanitary products, and packaging across production processes. These shifts have been driven by a more informed consumer who values the origin of their produce, seeking companies that can live up to their promise of unrivalled freshness and wholly responsible practices.

In such a shifting landscape, Frutas Borja stands as a company well-equipped to meet the public’s evolving demands. As it enters a new year of operations, the company remains dedicated to maintaining its high standards of quality and compliance, with plans to continue setting new benchmarks across the region’s agricultural sector. 2026 will be marked by ongoing investment in innovation and technology, particularly in the fields of precision agriculture, crop control, and planning. The company will also reinforce team development, leveraging regular training to continue offering a professional but personal service.

Sustainability remains a firm commitment, with projects in the pipeline aimed at water conservation, input reduction, and environmental protection. Simultaneously, Frutas Borja will prioritise the continuous improvement of its production processes to better serve its customers and enhance efficiency and quality in both the field and the warehouse. This will be further bolstered by the development of new fruit varieties to offer produce with better flavours and freshness, ensuring that Frutas Borja continues to evolve alongside the market and maintains its position as the Best Fresh Fruit Producer 2026.

In light of this significant achievement, Luisa shared: “We face the future of Frutas Borja with prudence, enthusiasm, and long-term vision. Our goal is to continue growing sustainability, reinforcing what we do best: offering fruit of consistent quality, with a reliable and responsible service. We want to further consolidate ourselves as a trusted supplier, adapting to market changes without losing our values or agricultural identity.”