More than 50% of the population works in agriculture. Fishing and other industries also play a role. TourTourism plays an important role. Tourists are more interested in shopping opportunities. There are legally mandated opening hours in the Azores, but many shops open as needed. So don't be surprised if the shops are closed in the afternoon.
Grocery stores, in particular, are often open at least in the morning on Sundays. In larger cities, you can shop until late in the evening. There are now supermarkets here that can easily compete with Central European dimensions.
Agriculture:
Economically, agriculture is the most important industry in the Azores. Cows can be seen grazing everywhere. Livestock farming and dairy farming have been successful on each of the nine islands to this day. Butter and cheese are exported. Dairy products are especially popular and well-known: cheese from Sao Jorge or Flores is considered a noble delicacy.
Azores farmers also produce excellent beef. Meat products are exported primarily to Portugal and the island of Madeira. The meat is of excellent quality. Overall, this part of agriculture accounts for around 70 percent of all Azores exports. About a quarter of the milk and dairy products consumed throughout Portugal come from the Azores. Over 20.000 cattle are slaughtered annually. More than twice that number are exported annually.
The export of agricultural products is a classic activity that has played an important role from the very beginning. Until the 16th century, wheat was the main commodity shipped to the continent. The new Portuguese colonies, especially on the otherwise arid African mainland, were grateful buyers of the grain, which thrived in the humid Azores.
Then, dye plants replaced grains. The blue dye indigo was obtained from the pastel plant woad. A reddish-brown dye was obtained from the lichen orseille (Urzela). Dye factories in faraway Flanders, in particular, lost large portions of their production. Only when artificial dyes replaced natural products did the end of this industry become sealed.
A similar fate befell viticulture. With the introduction of powdery mildew and later phylloxera in the 19th century, almost all vines were wiped out. Today's vines, however, are resistant to phylloxera. Corn, sweet potatoes, and yams are still cultivated today, but primarily for subsistence.
Orange cultivation:
In the 18th century, orange cultivation flourished. Sao Miguel It became one of the centers of orange cultivation and competed with the orange groves of Valencia. Citrus fruits had actually arrived in the Azores as early as the 16th century. The plantations were hidden behind high walls, some of which still stand today. The fruit was mostly exported to England and overseas. Oranges were a luxury item at the time and only available in winter. In 1854 alone, 60 million oranges and 15 million lemons were exported to England on 70 ships. Each orange was picked ripe and individually wrapped in dry corn husks. The oranges were then loaded onto cargo schooners using small boats. Countless Vessels Trade routes operated between the Azores and distant England. Every year, a race ensued to see which ship would be the first to arrive in England with fresh produce. Within just a few dozen ships, the crossing took two to three weeks. Several thousand sailors were employed solely in the export business. They transported the fragile goods across the Atlantic in small schooners. However, they could only carry a small amount of cargo. The schooners had limited hold, and the highly perishable oranges were difficult to stack. The valuable cargo had to be sorted daily. The largest ships could transport up to 100 tons. Since the port of Ponta Delgada was unsuitable for steamships, expansion began, especially as there was a shortage of coal storage. The orange boom brought soaring profits. Magnificent mansions were built. Merchants from England soon settled on the islands with their families. They still bear witness today to the prosperity that oranges brought. As great as the success was, it was over just as quickly. A disease destroyed almost all the plantations within a few years. The collapse of trade plunged the islands into a severe economic crisis.
Fishing:
The low importance of fishing is surprising. Tuna is one of the most caught species in terms of quantity. Other fish species in the biodiverse Atlantic are mainly caught for subsistence or to supply local restaurants.
Economy in general:
In recent years, several projects in the Azores have been financed with subsidies from the European Union.
A large part of industrial production is based on Sao Miguel The construction industry is traditionally active. Many processing plants are located in the Ponta Delgada district. Tobacco and sugar are processed here, tea is grown, and beer is brewed.
On Sao Miguel There are also numerous pineapple plantations. These fruits, of excellent quality and grown in greenhouses, have been available since 1864.
Large areas are also planted with tobacco. It is grown directly in the factories. Sao Miguel Processed. Two tobacco factories produce cigarettes in various types and strengths, as well as cigars. They are available in all shops in the Azores. Tobacco grows primarily on the humid northern side of the island.
There are also fruit plantations. A typical product is passion fruit liqueur. Passion fruit serves as an alternative to fruit cultivation. It is also used as an ingredient in baked goods.
In the northeast of Sao Miguel The last tea plantations in Europe are located here. The tea plants were introduced from China in 1801. Initially on the island. Terceira Cultivated, cultivation also took place on Sao Miguel its place. Step by step, the population was initiated into the secrets of cultivation and processing. To this day, two farms have survived.
Sugar beets are also processed into sugar. Just 100 years ago, they were used to make alcohol. Today, they supply the only sugar factory in the Azores. Sao MiguelOverall, the proportion of grain and arable crops is rather low. An exception is corn. It is mainly used as animal feed. Another consumer is some bakeries, which process it into the well-known, slightly sweet cornbread.
Power generation:
Electricity in the Azores is generated in oil-fired power plants. There are also hydroelectric power plants that utilize the geothermal resources of the Azores, particularly on [unspecified island/island]. Sao Miguel A large geothermal power plant is being built near Ribeira Grande. This is a step towards alternative energy production. In addition, there are more and more wind turbines.
