Murcia serves as a major producer of agricultural products; it is common to find Murcia's tomatoes and lettuce, and especially lemonsand oranges, in European supermarkets. Murcia is a producer of wines, with about 100,000 acres (40,469 ha) devoted to grape vineyards. Most of the vineyards are located in Ricote and Jumilla. Jumilla is a plateau where the vineyards are surrounded by mountains.
Murcia is a centre for industry, with many British and American companies choosing it as a location for satellite factories, such asHenry Milward & Sons (which manufactures surgical and knitting needles), American firms like General Electric and Paramount Park Studios.
Recently, the economy of the region is turning towards "residential tourism" in which people from northern European countries have a second home in the area. Europeans and Americans are able to learn Spanish in the academies in the town center.
The economy of Murcia is supported by fairs and congresses, museums, theatres, cinema, music, aquariums, bullfighting, restaurants, hotels, camping, sports, foreign students, and tourism
