Over 3 500 families depend on the activities developed around the famous cherry of Valle del Jerte, Spain. Key economic sectors in the area include agriculture and tourism - the spectacular cherry blossom in the valley has become a national event.
Easter is usually the peak season for rural tourism in the area but this year no tourist is expected. Even the packing of cherries is compromised due to the Coronavirus crisis.
In this community of 11 villages and about 12 000 inhabitants, the LEADER Local Action Group has taken a series of notable initatives involving all the key stakeholders:
- The women's organisations and municipalities in each village are organising groups of volunteers to produce masks;
- They set up a pool of home helps for the most vulnerable in the community;
- They are looking at ways of offering jobs in the upcoming cherry season to people who have lost their jobs in tourism – thereby helping those in need and covering the shortage of workers caused by the confinement;
- They are helping the cherry sector to develop common protocols for the safety of workers.
This blog collects all their activities and is regularly updated.
