Mercalicante Supported Over 200 Social Activities with 18 Tons of Fruit and Vegetables

Mercalicante has strengthened its commitment to promoting healthy habits and balanced nutrition throughout 2024 by collaborating in a total of 222 sports, educational, and charitable activities across the province. As part of these initiatives, the agri-food cluster distributed 18 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables to more than 68,300 participants in these events. Through these actions, Mercalicante continues to promote sports practice, nutritional education, and support for vulnerable groups, aligning with the sustainable development goals that guide its activities.

In the sports sector, Mercalicante collaborated in 57 sporting events, with participation from over 55,900 people. To ensure healthy refreshments for competitors, 11,800 kilos of fruits and vegetables were distributed, thus contributing to the spread of balanced nutrition in the sports environment.

In the educational area, the cluster supported 86 initiatives, including the distribution of fresh fruit and the organization of workshops aimed at instilling healthy habits in 8,143 young people. These activities required the provision of 2,720 kilos of fruits, with the aim of raising awareness among the youngest about the importance of a balanced diet. Additionally, collaboration continued with educational programs such as 'La Nevera' and the 'Dis-fruta del movimiento' days, organized in conjunction with the Youth Department of the Alicante City Council and the Department of Commerce, Consumption, and Markets, as well as receiving visits from 1,083 schoolchildren at the wholesale market facilities.

In the charitable field, 79 initiatives were carried out in collaboration with various social entities, reaching more than 4,150 people through the distribution of 1,620 kilos of agri-food products. Furthermore, following the recent DANA that affected the province of Valencia in October, Mercalicante, the Alicante Food Bank, and several companies from the agri-food park participated in a joint solidarity action with Mercavalencia, sending 15,600 kilos of fruits, vegetables, broths, and milk for distribution among those affected.

Similarly, the cluster participated in various cultural and gastronomic events such as the Gastrocinema Festival, the Alicante Gastronomic Fair, and the Menjars a la Terra days, reinforcing the importance of healthy eating in local culture and gastronomy. It also collaborated with the NAZARET project, aimed at women at risk of social exclusion, and with the NChef program of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Alicante, promoting the involvement of adults and minors in shopping, cooking, and meal planning habits.

In terms of employability and training, Mercalicante delivered a total of 1,313 hours of training related to the agri-food sector in 2024, benefiting 654 people. Currently, 1,433 people are registered on the cluster's employment platform, and 58 companies use it to strengthen their workforces. Thanks to agreements with companies such as Carrefour, Mas y Mas, and Musgrave, the employment of numerous participants in these training courses has been facilitated.

The general director of Mercalicante, Dolores Mejía, highlighted that "through these initiatives, we continue to promote a model of healthy, sustainable, and accessible eating, while supporting the business fabric and employability in the agri-food sector. Our commitment to sustainability and improving consumption habits continues to guide all our actions."