Women in the Canning Industry

#InternationalWomensDay

If there’s one industry in which women have always played — and continue to play — a leading role in Navarra, it’s the canning industry. Our town, located between two rivers, enjoys fertile land that has long supported the cultivation of vegetables and legumes.

When white asparagus arrived and the first canning factory was established, the demand for labor skyrocketed. While in other regions it was frowned upon for women to work outside the home, in the Ribera of Navarra, women were essential: in most households, they brought in an extra income through their work in the canneries.

Today, this sector includes more than 1,300 companies across Spain, employing over 25,000 people — more than 70% of whom are women.

Hard work, courage, and perseverance

Thanks to their strength, dedication, and resilience, women have played a vital and multifaceted role in one of the region’s most important sources of employment, economic value, and social wellbeing.

At El Navarrico, we have a shining example: Amalia Herce.

She was the cornerstone of El Navarrico. A woman, wife, and mother, Amalia devoted her life to her family and to supporting the dream her husband, José Salcedo, had for a small canning business.

Like many women of her time, she helped build the company from the ground up — literally, in the basement of their home, which measured no more than 60 m². Amalia was the only worker during the day, and her husband — employed at another cannery — used his breaks to seal the jars she had filled.

But Amalia didn’t just prepare preserves. She also dealt with farmers and suppliers, pushing forward “El Navarrico” in what was then a man’s world.

From 60 to 15,000 square meters

In 1965, the business moved into a 500 m² facility — the current home of the Canning Museum. The number of employees and products grew significantly.

Amalia retired from the business in 1985, passing the baton to her children. Ten years later, they relocated to a new facility in San Adrián’s industrial zone, covering 6,000 m².

Today, El Navarrico operates out of a 15,000 m² plant, exports to 30 countries, and employs over 50 people.

Most notably, 90% of the team are women, and over half hold leadership roles.

A legacy that lives on

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate all the women on our team, whose hard work and dedication ensure that every jar we produce carries the unmistakable seal of quality that defines El Navarrico.

Visit the Canning Museum

We invite you to visit the Canning Museum, where you can learn more about “The Role of Women in the Canning Industry” and discover the rich history of our region’s canning tradition.

Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/XTntUQQ58cs