AEFA donates face masks to more than 100,000 agricultural workers

Coinciding with the start of the seasonal fruit harvesting campaign, the companies that make up the Spanish Association of Agri-Nutrient Manufacturers (AEFA) have made a €90,000 donation to purchase face masks and distribute them to agricultural workers.

Through this solidarity initiative, AEFA recognizes the work of thousands of farmers and agricultural workers who, despite the state of alarm, continue working to guarantee the supply of fresh fruit to the population.

The approved protective equipment, whose purchase and distribution logistics have been managed through TRAGSA, thanks to the mediation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, meets all the health and safety protection requirements established by the health authorities. The masks will be distributed by Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España through its regional federations and cooperatives to workers involved in fruit harvesting in several regions of Spain.

Stone fruit harvesting will take place over the coming weeks, mainly in Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia, Extremadura, Aragon and Catalonia.

The masks will be manufactured by Fundación Laboral de Minusválidos Sta. Bárbara, whose workforce consists of people with physical, intellectual and sensory disabilities who normally manufacture workwear under the FUSBA brand. As a result of the health crisis, the organization has turned to manufacturing face masks to help ensure supplies where they are most needed.

More about AEFA

The Spanish Association of Agri-Nutrient Manufacturers (AEFA) is a non-profit association made up of 54 companies that manufacture agri-nutrients and are based and established in the Spanish market.

AEFA contributes effectively to the development and expansion of the agricultural sector. It provides effective solutions for more sustainable agriculture through innovative products in plant physiology, respectful of the environment and designed to support safe, high-quality production.

More about Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España

Cooperativas Agro-alimentarias de España represents 3,699 cooperative companies across Spain, with more than one million members and over 100,000 jobs.

The cooperatives have continued their activities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring a continuous food supply to the population while adapting their warehouses and processing facilities to guarantee the safety of their workers. As social economy enterprises, they have also donated medical supplies to healthcare centres and food to hospitals and NGOs, and have actively participated in disinfecting the communities where they operate.

More about TRAGSA

TRAGSA is an instrumental entity of the public administrations, which hold its entire share capital. Under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, it forms part of the State Industrial Holding Company (SEPI).

Its main activity focuses on carrying out works, projects and providing services related to agriculture, rural development, the environment and natural resource management, as well as other activities supporting public administrations, particularly in response to all types of social emergencies, natural disasters and climate-related incidents.

More about FUSBA

Fundación Laboral San Bárbara de Hunosa is also a publicly owned company within the framework of the State Industrial Holding Company (SEPI). Based in the Asturian municipality of Siero, its workforce is made up entirely of people with disabilities.

Specialized in providing equipment, materials and supplies for specialized work, the organization has started manufacturing face masks, primarily disposable hygienic masks, as part of its response to the current pandemic.