Spain: “Orange Vest” Protesters Step Out in Defense of Spanish Citrus

On February 19, 2019, ASAJA, the Spanish Young Farmers Association, organized a protest at the headquarters of the European Commission in Madrid. The protesters demanding the EU enforce tariffs on South African citrus entering the European market. Spain is the largest citrus producer in the European Union and the sixth largest in the world. However, Spanish citrus producers maintain that the growing influx of citrus imports from South Africa and other African suppliers has lower prices in the European market to the detriment of their sector. Another similar protest took place on February 25. The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture has taken steps to address their concerns but has also encouraged the sector to “get better organized” in order to improve their margins. 

Spain: “Orange Vest” Protesters Step Out in Defense of Spanish Citrus