My name's Margarita Barranco, but everyone knows me as Marga. I entered the world of farming about twenty years ago, purely out of love. I come from a small village in Málaga called Valle de Abdalajis. That's where I met David, my husband, back in 1998. When we were dating, I was working in the clothing industry, but I started to help out David's family on the farm. It was hard work and very family-oriented, and all hands were welcome. What's more, it was a great way - and almost the only way - to spend time with my boyfriend, as we'd be out on the farm nearly every day.
I was combining my job at the textile cooperative and on the family farm for five years. At that time, we barely had any citrus trees and the main source of income was from vegetables. David and I got married in 2004 and I gave up my job in the clothing industry the following year so that I could spend 100% of my time on the family business. When I started, I had no idea about farming as my previous job was worlds apart, so that was a big challenge for me. Thanks to David and José Luis, my brother-in-law, I soon warmed to my job and learned to love the industry. At the beginning, I did anything that was needed, especially collecting and packing peppers, onions, leeks, tomatoes, aubergines, and so on. However, there was a clear need for someone to manage the quality audits, so in 2007 I became the head of administration. I've had the same job ever since and I make sure that all administrative processes are managed correctly.
We now have several citrus farms (oranges, lemons and grapefruits) between the provinces of Seville and Málaga, all specialising in premium organic farming. Although my main job is in the office, I love to get outside and stroll among the orange trees to take my mind off. I'm a very sociable person, and I love having a good relationship with the workers.
David and José Luis are in charge of managing the agricultural and logistical sides of the farm. We're a traditional Andalusian family with our heart and soul devoted to our passion. Although we work really hard, as our season is quite long, we always like to joke around and have a bit of fun. We like to convey this sense of fun and approachability to our employees, who are vital for everything to run like clockwork.