The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment stated in Lagoa that the Regional Government has set the reduction of vegetable imports as programmatic goal.
 
Luís Neto Viveiros considered that "it is possible to increase production in the areas of diversification," namely horticulture and fruit growing with the farms like those he visited with Capoulas Santos, an investment made by Azorean farmers under PRORURAL, and "others that will follow their example."
 
Speaking to journalists, the Regional Secretary stressed that, in order to encourage the increase in production, the Regional Government of the Azores "took the initiative to increase the support to these agricultural productions by 20%," besides the support to the investment and installation of young farmers under the Rural Development Programme.
 
Luís Neto Viveiros and Capoulas Santos emphasised the entrepreneurial spirit and dynamics demonstrated by young entrepreneurs who, in addition to supplying several vegetables, including lettuce and herbs, to several islands, have already started selling fourth range products, such as salad mixes ready for consumption.