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The transaction concerning the purchase and sale will now proceed without the use of public funds, primarily due to the disapproval expressed by the La Laguna City Council regarding the offer to transact put forth months ago by the administrators of the Sociedad Cooperativa del Campo La Candelaria, a historic agricultural cooperative in the municipality of Tenerife and throughout the Canary Islands. Ultimately, as expected and approved during the general assembly held on 27th December, the main facilities of this agricultural entity will be sold to a private buyer for the sum of three million euros, with €90,000 of that amount, which is 3% of the total, allocated for the services of the real estate manager. This has been acknowledged by the president of the cooperative society, confirming what was approved in the general assembly and what must now be successfully executed from an administrative-legal standpoint after receiving a firm offer for the land and that amount.
With the completion of this commercial transaction, the historic Cooperativa del Campo La Candelaria, once presided over by the late Pedro Molina for many years, will be able to avert financial collapse once more and thereby continue to pursue its own activities with greater assurance, albeit without a physical presence in the San Benito neighbourhood. However, it is likely that operations will continue at the site of the infrastructure maintained by this cooperative near what was once its feed factory (El Ortigal area), which has also been sold to avert further match ball.
Regarding this negotiation, the president of Cooperativa del Campo La Candelaria, Candelaria Rodríguez, confirmed on Wednesday to this digital publication the ongoing sale of the central facilities of the agricultural entity, situated in the San Benito neighbourhood (Marqués de Celada street), for an overall sum of three million euros. The spokesperson remained tight-lipped when queried about the identity of the individual or company interested in that space and refrained from sharing other particulars concerning the ongoing transaction. However, the head of the agricultural cooperative emphasised that the activities and services it offers will continue at a different location, although she declined to specify where that might be. She also did not comment on whether the new phase of the entity would involve any changes, cutbacks, or additions.
Candelaria Rodríguez expressed her optimism that the purchase and sale operation would be successful, while also voicing her concern that any slip-up could jeopardise the deal. Nevertheless, she has secured the support of the partners, with authorisation obtained during the general assembly on 27th December. It is anticipated that the property transfer (as it is developable land) could be confirmed in the forthcoming weeks, according to the timeframes being reviewed by the selling entity.
A social and economic journey filled with challenges
The Cooperativa del Campo La Candelaria, despite the significant public financial backing received from the Island Council, the local city council, and the Government of the Canary Islands, often with the consensus of the three leading political parties in the islands (CC, PSOE and PP), has been grappling with a profound economic-financial crisis ever since its unsuccessful industrial project associated with the Granja Teisol brand, located in a facility presently owned by the Cabildo of Tenerife in the Santa Úrsula municipality. This was compounded by the failure of the Biogranja livestock farm (situated near this industry, now in disrepair, also owned by the Cabildo). Furthermore, the cooperative faced the financial obligation to sell its feed factory located in El Ortigal, which was acquired by Cereales Archipiélago, due to debts and losses. Much earlier, the failure and subsequent closure of the so-called cattle ranch at the Finca de la Data in La Esperanza, another property of the Cabildo relinquished to the cooperative, also contributed to these challenges.
Currently, the La Candelaria Cooperative manages the Benijos cheese factory (La Orotava), which is owned by the Cabildo de Tenerife under a public concession. For some time now, it has been endeavoured to sell this asset in a bid to escape its significant social and economic crisis.
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Challenges Faced by the La Candelaria Cooperative
Facilities and headquarters that it possesses in San Benito, situated on Marqués de Celada street, are currently confirmed and in development. Some individuals leading the La Candelaria Cooperative are overseeing and managing the Tenerife Livestock Breeders Association (Agate) and the Canarian Drag Federation, where Santiago Cacho, who is also the secretary of the aforementioned cooperative society, holds the position of president.
Up until now, no suitable buyer has been identified, whether public or private, to finalise the transfer of those premises and the land, which represent the only significant asset that the cooperative society maintains, alongside a warehouse established for the maturation of cheeses in a location near the now-defunct feed factory, which is being highlighted as a potential new operational base.
The local farmers who continue to supply milk to the cooperative for transformation, particularly into goat’s, cow’s, or blended milk cheeses (marketed through the public company of the Ministry of Agriculture known as GMR), at the Benijos cheese factory, have faced serious challenges in receiving payment for their produce. This has resulted in critical circumstances that have contributed to a decline in livestock farming activities.
