April 7, 2025.—The Viver Cooperative has presented the awards for its photography contest, highlighting the high level of participation and the rural beauty of the Alto Palancia region.

On Friday, April 4 , the Viver Cooperative hosted the awards ceremony for the “A Magical Flower in the Alto Palancia Region” photography contest at its facilities . The event brought together more than 60 attendees, including participants, family members, and professionals from the photography industry, who enjoyed the exhibition of the winning entries and other selected photographs in the cooperative’s wine cellar, where a toast was served to close the event.

Among the 237 photographs submitted to the contest by 91 participants, the jury decided, following a rigorous evaluation process, to award the first prize—worth €350—to the image “Renacer,” taken by Urbano Suárez in Mas del Tocón, Viver; the second prize, worth €150, to the photograph “Almond Blossoms” by Ximo Aparisi, taken in Masadas Blancas, Viver; and the third prize, consisting of a selection of cooperative products valued at €80, to the photograph “Almond Blossoms II” by David Piqueras, taken between the municipalities of Jérica and Viver.

An initiative to raise awareness of the region

The jury, composed of José Plasencia and Pablo Maroto, president and vice president, respectively, of the Segorbe Photography Association; and members of the technical team from the Viver Cooperative, evaluated the entries based on originality, technique, composition, and the ability to capture the essence of the almond blossoms in the Alto Palancia region.

The photographs were coded in advance by someone outside the jury to ensure impartiality. After a preliminary selection of 59 images, the evaluation committee narrowed the field down to 25 finalists, from which 5 outstanding candidates were chosen. Finally, after a thorough deliberation process, the three winning photographs were selected.

“It’s inspiring to see how the images reflect the beauty of our landscape and the hard work of our farmers. This contest is a testament to the Cooperativa de Viver’s commitment to culture and innovation in rural areas, and we’re so proud to see the talent of the participants,” said Cati Corell, director of Product and Agritourism at the Cooperativa de Viver.

Almendras from the Viver Cooperative: Recognized Quality

Almonds are one of the most iconic products of the Alto Palancia region, both for their economic importance and their cultural value, with the Marcona variety standing out for its quality and culinary versatility. The Viver Cooperative has an average of 100 almond-producing members who cultivate their fields with dedication, although yields have been declining in recent years, with harvests ranging from 400,000 kg to 550,000 kg—well below the one million kilos that would be considered a good harvest.

Despite this decline in quantity, the quality of the almonds from the Viver Cooperative remains excellent and has once again been recognized by Grup Unió, the country’s largest nut cooperative, for their proper handling and preservation.

First Prize. “Renacer,” by Urbano Suárez.

Second Prize. “Almond Blossoms,” by Ximo Aparisi.

Third Prize. “Almond Blossoms II,” David Piqueras.