Morocco could shortly become the “African Giant” in the international fresh produce market. The country’s production is strongly export oriented, and for years the tomato has been the main product exported, but nowadays Morocco is also proving to be a fierce competitor in the pepper, melon, cucumber and citrus fruit export market.

During the last two decades, the country has shown tremendous development, not only in its production rate, but also in the quality and diversification of its agricultural products. The modernisation of the sector, with notable improvements in growing techniques and sustainable practices, has made Morocco one of the leading exporters of fresh produce to the international market.

The agricultural industry, which employs 40% of the active population, is a key sector for the North African country, which has a useful agricultural area of approximately 9.5M hectares. Furthermore, the importance of this sector will surely increase, since Morocco has been one of the first Mediterranean countries to employ IPM techniques with its crops, and producers have adapted their procedures to meet the international standards demanded by European importers, such as EurepGap, Nature’s Choice and BRC.

Indeed, according to the latest agricultural production figures published in the 2008 Moroccan F&V sector yearbook (Annuaire Marocain de la filière Fruits & Légumes), annual F&V production has increased from 6M tonnes in the 1990s to 9M tonnes in the last five years.