Vega Baja artichoke next week “Menjars de la Terra” gastronomy daysHe will visit five area restaurants Monday through Friday to highlight his rich and diverse cuisine.
Farmers from Vega Baja lead the country in artichoke exports and are the main producer in the Valencian Community and the second producer in Spain. The crop produces approx. 7,000 jobs (between direct and indirect) and is a strong economic engine of the region.
artichoke It has become a symbol of the region, various events dedicated to this vegetable are held in the middle of the season, and also the hallmark of the gastronomic identity of Vega Baja del Segura.
Its importance is such that “The jewel of the garden” This product, which is an indispensable product of the region, is frequently included in restaurant menus, and in many different forms. All this shows the versatility of the artichoke in the kitchen and, above all, that there is a lot of wisdom, experience, tradition and knowledge in the regional cuisines.
There Dishes passed down from generation to generation and the most avant-garde techniques have also been included to make the most of this jewel. Therefore, we can also find it in traditional cuisine dishes such as widow’s pot, three handfuls of rice or artichoke and anchovy rice. But it is also found in creams, chips, candies, different textures, salads, baked, grilled or artichoke omelets.
There many ways to prepare this and all the ways to enjoy it are through one of the restaurants in Vega Baja del Segura and all the establishments that will participate in the “Menjars de la Terra” gastronomy days.
Vega Baja artichoke is characterized by its round and compact shape, firm leaves and intense green color. It has a slightly bitter taste and a soft, meaty texture that makes it a real delicacy.
In addition, this artichoke stands out with its following features: high qualityThanks to the climate and soil conditions of Vega Baja.
The Vega Baja Artichoke brand has been defending and promoting all these qualities since 2011 in order to encourage its cultivation and give this vegetable the prestige it deserves. As a result of this work, the area allocated for cultivation has increased and the brand image has been strengthened in national markets.
All this thanks to the support of more than one person a dozen companies and city councils in the sector List of municipalities associated with the brand: Almoradí, Benejúzar, Callosa de Segura, Catral, Cox, Daya Vieja, Dolores, Formentera del Segura, Orihuela, Rafal, Rojales and San Fulgencio.
The work of the Vega Baja Artichoke Association has been developed on several levels. On the one hand, participating in fairs to increase their position in the sector and open new markets; In gastronomic events that will strengthen your presence in the kitchen; Implementation of various actions for school children in the region, such as the publication of recipe books and promotional materials to encourage consumption and the publication of the artichoke game to bring the values of the garden to the classrooms and convey the importance of agriculture in Vega Baja del Segura.
On the other hand, campaigns are also carried out in which the great efforts of everyone behind the product are highlighted. In this sense, the “Stories from the Heart” initiative, which consists of a series of videos in which three generations tell about their life-related experiences, was recently launched. Vega Baja artichoke.
The leading actors are Cayetano Murcia, known as Tano el de la barraca, an 80-year-old retiree who, along with his father, has had an affair with artichokes since he was a child. Young Lizeth Añez, who quit her job at the hair salon to have more schedule freedom and balance, devoted herself to gardening; and Silvia Alfosea, who has worked for Spain’s leading artichoke exporters for 24 years.
Great stories highlighting the key role Artichokes in the Vega Baja garden.