International Farm Focus

Beirabaga is a fruit growing business run by the Horgan family, Bernardo is in charge of the technical side, Frederico does all national sales and Pedro runs their Lisbon office. The production is based in Northern Portugal, near the Malcata Mountain range. Beirabaga has been growing berries since about 1990; their product range includes raspberries, blackberries, currants etc.

This area of Portugal has a good produce growing reputation (Cherries, Peaches and Apples) and Beirabaga want to add to this by producing the best quality summer berries. there were in fact the first company in Portugal to start commercially growing these types of fruits.

They have developed both a home and international market for their fresh berries, for the last seven years Beirabaga have been a dedicated grower to Well-Pict European for the supply of AMS / ASDA. They produce on a total of 14 ha which is divided into two farms, the original farm has 4 ha of raspberry production whilst the second site has over 10 ha (this was only purchased in 2003). Over the last wo years alone they have increased their raspberry production by almost double from 4ha to 7.5ha. Plus they have put in an extra 1 ha of blackberries. each of the farms has its own packing facility on site and they are working towards achieving their EurepGAP certification. over their raspberry season (season is split into two May-end of August and Oct- end Nov) they produce: Autumn Bliss, Polka, Heritage and Tulameen. Whilst in Blackberries they produce Loch Ness, Silivan and Arapaho.

Beirbaga are constantly trying to find better varieties, with better yields, shelf life and flavour. They are also looking at growing techniques in an effort to improve the quality of the product they produce. They are looking towards increasing their production of both raspberries and blackberries for ogrowing WPE sales. They are also considering diversifying into other soft fruit crops.

The family also have a much longer established business called Serramel which produces and markets honey and bee products, the business was originally started in the early 1990's. they export their honey and bee products all over the world; Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, france, America and Mozambique. They producein the Serra da Malcata, a natural reserve of 21,000ha. it is a wild mountain range and one of the last sanctuaries of the Iberian Lynx. This location was chosen due to its isolation and richness in wild flowers; heather and lavender from which the bees collect a high quality honey.

The product range includes some 18 different honey's including Eucalyptus honey and Wild Lavender Honey.

Nine different honeys with fruits or nuts including honey with raspberries and honey with almonds.

A range of marmalades, jams and figs for export only (all of which are manufactured by traditional methods and free from artificial colour and preservatives).

They also sell other bee-related products such as bee pollen, propolis and Royal Jelly (all of thish are often sold through health food shops).

The whole range can be seen on their website www.serramel.com

Summer 2004