Asprocan Reelection Proceeds Amidst Minority Support and Internal Division

The renewal of the regional banana association's presidency was confirmed with the backing of only three entities, representing 42% of the production.

Generic image of a bunch of ripe bananas, with a blurred background of a tropical plantation.
IA

Generic image of a bunch of ripe bananas, with a blurred background of a tropical plantation.

The reelection of the president of the Association of Banana Producer Organizations of the Canary Islands (Asprocan) took place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, securing support representing 42% of the commercialized production, reflecting a notable internal division within the entity.

The sole candidacy for the presidency of Asprocan, confirmed at the regional banana organization's annual assembly, received one of the lowest levels of support among the six Banana Producer Organizations (OPP) that comprise the association. Only three of these entities voted in favor of the mandate's continuity, while two abstained and one opposed.
The weighted voting system, based on the kilograms commercialized during the previous year, allowed for the renewal with a simple majority. The OPP s that supported the reelection accounted for 42% of the production, benefiting from the abstention of 28% of the kilograms. This outcome occurred despite the opposition from the influential cooperative Coplaca, which holds 30% of the production and had previously expressed its disagreement.
Among the entities that supported the reelection are Europlátano, Agrícola Llanos de Sardina (originally from Gran Canaria), and Plataneros de Canarias (also from Gran Canaria). On the other hand, Agriten and the newly recognized Unión Platanera Canaria (formerly Cupalma, with roots in La Palma) chose to abstain. The assembly also formalized the incorporation of Unión Platanera Canaria as a new member of Asprocan.
This vote highlights a clear polarization within Asprocan, a employers' organization now divided between the OPP s supporting the current leadership, representing less than half of the total banana production in the Canary Islands, and those who abstained or opposed, controlling approximately 58% of the supply. This situation of internal division is uncommon in the traditionally secretive Asprocan.