Guissona
Guissona is a fully
integrated meat processing cooperative in the Catalonia region of Spain. Among the different meat products produced
by cooperative members and processed at the Guissona plant are pork, turkey, beef,
and rabbit. The cooperative was formed
in 1959 by a group of farmers with the purpose of combining their capital and
raw materials to make production more efficient. Over the years, the cooperative has grown to a large-scale
integrated business, involving the whole marketing channel from newborn animals
to the marketing services provided by the many Guissona stores throughout the
region.
The cooperative,
officially called Corporaciķ Alimentāria Guissona (CAG),
has supply contracts with the many cooperative farmers for the production of
the different types of livestock. The 55-acre main facility located in Segarra County
processes and packages the meat products.
The main processing facility employs over 2,500 people. Overall yearly production in 2002 included
35 million chicks, 30 million chickens, 15 million quails, 3 million turkeys,
23 million eggs, 500,000 hogs, and 23,000 beef cattle. After the products are produced and
packaged, they are shipped and marketed throughout the region and worldwide.
In addition to production, processing, and marketing activities, the
cooperative has expanded to include other services. CAG provides financial services for both producers and local
residents and specializes in livestock information such as breeding and animal
health. The picture below shows hams
being cured at CAGs main processing facility.
These hams hang here for over 6 months, and the plant can accommodate
about one-half million hams at one time.
The group was able to sample some of this great cured ham in the on-site
grocery store and cafeteria.
Hams Curing at the Guissona Processing
Plant
More information about Guissona.
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