Andalucía: the Quality Market Garden
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Andalucía Andalucía: the quality market garden Andalusia is Spain’s most populous devolved region, and the second-largest by size. Its climate and wealth of landscapes, history and heritage give rise to a wide variety of successful economic activities. Andalusia produces a huge variety of fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables account for the lion’s share of Andalusian agriculture and are one of its main underpinnings for development. With annual output of 7.5 million tons of vegetables and 2 million tons of fruit, the GUIDE of the Best Fruits and Vegetables 18 www.frutas-hortalizas.com Andalucía sector totals 49% of all Andalusian farming, and makes the region Spain’s leading exporter, especially of tomatoes, peppers, strawberries and cucumbers. Present knowledge about the importance of fruit and vegetables in our diet provides a powerful argument for the large investment in the sector, which has beco- me a source of wealth creation for many rural areas of Andalusia. The high returns achieved encouraged settlement in the territory and enlarged the agricultural sector’s assets. GUIDE of the Best Fruits and Vegetables 19 www.frutas-hortalizas.com Andalucía Chirimoya de la Vegetables are highly versatile and allow a wide Costa Tropical is a range of uses. This broadens the possibilities for eating vegetables: nutrition experts recommend five custard apple portions a day. You can sample them in a salad grown on the west dressed with Andalusian extra virgin olive oil and coast of Granada vinegar, in a typical gazpacho cold vegetable soup or province and the salmorejo tomato and garlic cream, or in a traditional east coast of stew. Vegetables are a fundamental component of the so-called “Mediterranean diet”. Malaga province. Each of Andalusia’s provinces grows its own Its PDO has been distinctive produce: in force since Almería is a land of market gardens. It grows the 2002. The finest tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, runner beans, courgettes, aubergines, melons and watermelons. Its chirimoya has a inland districts have a total area of over 180,000 hec- GUIDE of the Best Fruits and Vegetables sweet taste and tares of almond orchard. characteristic The lush vegas of Granada cultivate green as- aroma. Its high paragus, artichoke, onion, lettuce and cherry tomato. fibre content aids The Granada and Malaga coastal areas, however, are known for “sub-tropical” custard apple and avocado digestion, and it is production. Malaga is also a preeminent producer of rich in vitamins B lemon and raisins. and C and Huelva offers us tangerines, chestnuts and its minerals such as wonderful strawberries. This province is the world’s calcium, iron and second-largest strawberry producer after California. Seville is the region’s main grower of citrus fruit, 20 phosphorus. peaches and tomatoes for the processing industry. The success of the fruit and vegetable sector in Andalusia springs from the exceptional quality of its www.frutas-hortalizas.com Andalucía produce, recently reinforced by a range of certification The first Spanish systems based on technologies such as monitored protected growing, organic farming and integrated produc- tion. geographical Within its vast range of fruit and vegetables, the indication (PGI) flagship products are those which, by dint of special for a tomato was ties to their place of origin or other distinctive featu- introduced in res, qualify as “Foods of Differentiated Quality” under January 2008 for European law. This category includes: Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Chirimoya de la Costa La Cañada-Níjar Tropical de Granada-Málaga, PDO Pasa de Málaga tomatoes, (raisins), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) synonymous with Espárrago de Huétor-Tiétar (asparagus) in Granada assured origin and province, and the recently introduced PGI Tomate de La Cañada-Níjar (tomatoes) in Almería province. the highest quality. Chirimoya de la Costa Tropical de Granada- The label certifies GUIDE of the Best Fruits and Vegetables Málaga is grown on the west coast of Granada pro- that production vince and the east coast of Malaga province. This processes follow area, thanks to its climate and the varieties used, is strict controls and the only region in Europe where high-quality custard apple can be grown. achieve the The cultivars used are derived from native va- requisite unique rieties. The main one, Fino de Jete, is a local clonal flavour and selection of plants grown spontaneously from seeds quality. in the Jete area. The variety accounts for 95% of the 3,000 hectares under cultivation, and was chosen by growers for its sweet flavour and smooth skin. The 21 next variety in importance, Campas, is also the outcome of a local selection. The PDO Chirimoya de la Costa Tropical de Granada-Málaga was recognised in 2002 by the re- gional department of agriculture and fisheries. The Consejo Regulador inspection body, based at Almu- ñécar, oversees compliance with quality requirements and strictly monitors product sourcing through a traceability system. 30% of total output comes under the PDO. 1996 saw the creation of the PDO Pasas de Málaga, which protects raisins produced by sun- www.frutas-hortalizas.com Andalucía 1996 saw the drying ripe Vitis vinifera grapes of the Muscat of introduction of the Alexandria variety, harvested and dried in the Axarquía district or its sub-area of Manilva. PDO Pasas de The traditional crafts of vine-growing and raisin Málaga. These production combine with a privileged climate and raisins retain the relief to create a typical product that lends expression flavour of the to the region and its people. Muscat grape Malaga raisins retain the flavour of the Muscat grape variety, with a fine balance of the grape’s natu- variety, with a fine ral acidity and the sugars that naturally concentrate balance of the in the drying process. grape’s natural Espárrago de Huétor-Tájar asparagus grows in acidity and the the lush Vega de Granada, and is classed as a semi-wild ecotype selected using traditional methods from native sugars that asparagus species. It differs from white asparagus by GUIDE of the Best Fruits and Vegetables naturally dint of its delicately bitter taste, powerful aroma, green- concentrate in the to-purple hue and its sharp, spearhead tip. drying process. The Denominación Específica (DE) Espárrago de Huétor-Tájar was recognised in 1996 by an Order of the regional department of agriculture and fisheries. The PGI achieved Community registration in 2000. The DE’s inspection body identifies compliant products with a back label that certifies their origin and quality. 22 www.frutas-hortalizas.com Andalucía The area covered by the PGI Tomate La Cañada- The Espárrago Níjar lies in Almería province. It enjoys a ‘sub-tropi- de Huétor-Tájar cal’ Mediterranean climate combined with saline soil and irrigation water with a high concentration of ions. asparagus grows All this gives the tomatoes a range of distinctive in the lush Vega properties, such as firm flesh, excellent flavour due de Granada, and to high level of sugars and organic acids, and a high is classed as a level of the anti-oxidant lycopene. semi-wild ecotype Tomatoes under this PGI must be of the fo- llowing commercial varieties: Redondo Liso, Asur- selected using cado, Oblongo or alargado and cherry tomato. traditional The application for registration of the PGI To- methods from mate de La Cañada-Níjar was accepted by the regio- native asparagus nal department of agriculture and fisheries in October 2007. By a new Order of 30 January 2008, the regio- species. nal government approved the rules and regulations GUIDE of the Best Fruits and Vegetables of the PGI and its inspection body, thus allowing the use of certification under the label and the placing on the market of certified products. In addition, the department of agriculture and fisheries of the Junta de Andalucía awards the mark Calidad Certificada to products obtained to the utmost standards of quality and respect for the environment and offering distinctive properties. The label supports quality, offers consumers the endorsement of the Andalusian regional government, and gives producers a unique opportunity for promoting their products. 23 www.frutas-hortalizas.com Andalucía Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Chirimoya de la Costa Tropical GUIDE of the Best Fruits and Vegetables de Granada-Málaga On the coasts of Granada and PDO-certified chirimoya has a deli- Malaga, in the shelter of a sub-tro- cious fragrance and its delicate sweet pical microclimate and mild summer taste with a hint of acidity captivates an- breezes, grows the chirimoya (An- yone who tastes it. The pale green skin nona cherimola) or custard apple. darkens on ripening, and the whitish Originating in South America, the pulp is fleshy, tender and juicy. The fruit was introduced to Spain in the ideal consistency is when the pulp has seventeenth century and began to a slight give when pressed. be grown commercially in the early Its health benefits include its high 24 twentieth century. The highly prized fibre content, and it is rich in vitamins B chirimoya is consumed fresh. and C and minerals such as calcium, This area of Andalusia, thanks potassium, iron and phosphorus. Chiri- to its climate and the varieties used, moya is easily digested owing to its en- is the only region in Europe where zyme content. high-quality chirimoya can be The certified cultivars used are de- grown. rived from native varieties. The main PDO Chirimoya de la Costa one, Fino de Jete, is a local clonal se- Tropical de Granada-Málaga, crea- lection of plants grown spontaneously ted in 2002, covers chirimoya crops from seeds in the Jete area. It accounts grown on a 860 km2 area on the for most of the area under cultivation west coast of Granada province and and its special features set it apart from the east coast of Malaga province.