My name's Juan Ramón Fernández Casas. I've been a farmer by choice since 2000, which makes me feel like a free man. I once read that freedom comes to you by strokes of luck, or as is my case by choice and hard work. I've worked in several trades, including as a carpenter. But for years I felt like a slave to never-ending days that were taking over my life, so I decided to make some big changes. Farming was the option with which I could become my own boss, work in nature (where I'm at my happiest) and achieve the personal freedom that I'd been yearning for. Along with the peach farm, I run a small pig farm. I spend every morning working on both farms, from about 7.00 am until the heat starts to kick in. It wasn't easy at the start, especially because of the rookie mistakes that I made. I don't doubt the adage of the old knowing better than the young, but farming these days is advancing in leaps and bounds based on science and innovation. That's why I initially listened to reason and designed an agricultural model that ended up being archaic, so I had to transform it over time. I do everything within our team. I plan the key activities of the peach farm and the pig farm, which I then implement together with my employees. I always arrange my day to finish in time to enjoy my huge passion: outdoor sports. The Guadix region is a truly spectacular place for running, mountain biking, climbing and hiking. Not an afternoon goes by without me enjoying Mother Nature. CrowdFarming is today our greatest hope to achieve JUSTICE for our work, and to value the excellence of the peaches that we produce. Despite its quality, most of the fruit is surprisingly earmarked for production lines at laughable prices that prevent us from implementing the improvements that our farms need. We're convinced that a conscientious and ethical marketplace like CrowdFarming will help us achieve the dignity and respect so much needed by any profession.

Finca Benalúa is a cooperative agricultural project with thirty-four partners, working together since 1995. We're located in the surroundings of Benalúa de Guadix, a village with a deep-rooted agricultural tradition where peach trees have been grown since the 1980s. You'll receive your fruit from any one of these farms, as we all grow peaches according to the same criteria. My farm, known as Cabezo del Olivar, is located - like most of the farms in our project - on the Palomar Rambla, formed by the watercourse of the River Fardes. It's a floodplain very rich in vegetation, thanks to the availability of water in aquifers and the soil nutrients, with a high percentage of clays. Our region is full of wastelands, which form an incredible landscape and are today a UNESCO Global Geopark. Farming takes place in the riverside areas, which turn a hundred shades of green when springtime arrives. The rest are breathtaking but desolate lands with a geological heritage that showcases our continent's history. In addition to peaches, crops found in the region include almonds, olives, alfalfa, maize, buckthorn and tomatoes. The main crop used to be sugar beet, which is why a sugar mill was built in our village at the turn of the twentieth century. It ceased operations in the 1980s, which triggered the initiative to grow peach trees. Our region has been depopulating in recent years. Agriculture isn't enough to keep young people here and we're facing some major challenges to revitalise our land. For example, there are plans to modernise the irrigation systems, which are currently based on flood irrigation. This will give us more resources and mean that we can develop a modern and sustainable type of agriculture, which will also give us a more prosperous future. The water comes from the old irrigation community that used to supply the sugar mill, which sourced it from the Francisco Abellán reservoir. All the farms in our project adhere to the requirements of organic farming. This was the first forward-looking element that we applied, with a view to guaranteeing an ethical and profitable model that safeguards our region's values. What's more, we have our own conservation criteria. The wastelands are characterised by a rapid loss of soil during rainstorms, so we prevent this by using natural hedges along the river courses, which protect the valley and the crops. Another practice is soil protection, so we steer clear of tillage and incorporate organic matter from the remains of pruning and sorting. It's a model of preventive agriculture, which also includes techniques to avoid the use of chemicals for pest control. For example, maintaining the plant cover at certain times helps us attract beneficial insects that control pests. In terms of employment, the farm owners usually have repeat crews of seasonal workers who are routinely contracted for pruning, thinning and harvesting jobs. In my case, four people usually accompany me and we've been working together for about eight years. Of course, their salary is set by the collective agreement. What are the quality selection criteria for our fruit? The excellent flavour, size and colour of our peaches. And I always make sure not to include pieces that may be damaged by hail or insect bites. All these are sent to production lines or incorporated into the soil as organic matter.