Andalusia, beloved land

Verde que te quiero verde, wrote the poet Federico García Lorca in his verses about his beloved land. Andalusia is a vast territory full of gastronomic riches. And EDYPRO is proud to be part of obtaining these products that the south of Spain gives us. With Andalusia Day just around the corner, we take this post to review some of the gastronomic luxuries that this land offers us.

• OLIVE OIL. Olive oil, known as liquid gold, is a basic element of our Mediterranean diet. Andalusia has almost one and a half million hectares of olive groves. This product, with a Protected Designation of Origin, reigns supreme in the Andalusian landscape and forms part of the soul and tradition of this land. The olive tree also has a great ecological value, thanks to it the advance of desertification and the serious effect of erosion on the land is slowed down. Not to mention its contribution to our health. Daily consumption prevents cancer and cardiovascular diseases such as diabetes and cholesterol, among others.
• VEGETABLES.  This sector has become an important source of wealth for many rural areas in Andalusia. It is worth mentioning Almería, where tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, courgettes, aubergines, beans, melons and early watermelons can be found. Special mention should be made of the RAF tomato from this region, the result of a selection of traditional tomatoes grown in areas around Nijar, near the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. Its great flavour and presence, as well as its sometimes infamous prices at auctions in Almeria, have led to this humble vegetable becoming known as the “pata negra tomato”
• CITRUS FRUIT.  Andalusia is currently the second largest Spanish region in terms of surface area, behind our own region, the Valencian Community. The main citrus fruit producers are Seville, Huelva (strawberries and mandarins), Cordoba (oranges), Almeria, Malaga, Cadiz and Granada. According to the latest data, the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Sustainable Development estimates that Andalusia’s citrus production will exceed 2.4 million tonnes in the 2021-2022 season.
• SUBTROPICAL FRUIT. The national production of these fruits is concentrated in Andalusia, with avocado, mango, custard apple and loquat crops standing out. The most widespread subtropical crops in the Axarquia region of Malaga are avocado and mango. Both products help us to control cholesterol. Mango also cares for our skin, helps us with eye health and regulates the digestion process. Avocado, on the other hand, is good for the heart, is rich in folic acid and helps us to lose weight thanks to its satiating effect among many other advantages.
• RICE. The municipality of Isla Mayor, together with the rice fields of Doñana, is the largest rice-producing area in Spain. These rice fields are a natural paradise at the gates of the Doñana National Park, a landscape of marshes where farmers have achieved a more sustainable and environmentally friendly cultivation. According to the latest studies, there is a symbiotic relationship between Doñana and the rice fields. More than 150 species of birds pass through these lands during the year, the Doñana marshes being the place in Europe with the highest concentration of birds. A delight for the eyes and the palate.

These are just some of the products that the lands of the South offer us and which we should include on our weekly shopping list. As you can see, there is a whole host of basic products with which to achieve endless possibilities in the kitchen, capable of pleasing the most demanding palates.