Albatera (Alicante) has kicked off the new breva campaign with the traditional cutting of the fruit, a symbolic gesture with which "the deserved relevance" is given to a production "so important for the town" and to the work of the farmers, who cultivate it "meticulously". For this season, a harvest close to two million kilos is estimated.
The event took place on a farm in the municipal area and brought together the president of the Provincial Council of Alicante, Toni Pérez; the vice-president of the provincial institution and mayor of Albatera, Ana Serna; and the vice-president of the Association of Producers of Breva de Albatera, Carlos Vicente.
Members of the municipal corporation, regional officials, representatives of local associations, and numerous farmers also attended the meeting, as detailed by the City Council in a statement.
During his speech, Pérez reaffirmed the "institutional commitment" to this crop, which he defined as a "symbol of health, proximity, closeness, legacy, and history," and called for "water" to "irrigate the fields of the Vega Baja."
He also highlighted that it is "great news" to see that "more and more producers are participating in the art of associating to do things better and continue progressing," and he valued the work of the agricultural sector, as "there is no better human activity than that of those who dedicate themselves to producing and caring for the land to give the best to society as a whole."
The provincial leader emphasized that the Albatera breva is "a great ambassador" for Alicante, present "both in the national and international market," and reiterated that it represents "health, proximity, closeness, legacy, and history," according to the Provincial Council.
He also recalled the institution's "commitment" to the Association of Producers of Breva de Albatera, with which it has cooperated since its creation in 2012. This year, the financial aid for the dissemination and promotion of the product amounts to 9,000 euros, in addition to various actions to promote it at events, fairs, and appointments such as the International Fruit and Vegetable Fair Fruit Attraction, which the Provincial Council attends every year.
Campaign Forecasts and Defense of Water
After the symbolic cutting, the vice-president of the Association of Producers of Breva de Albatera thanked the City Council and the Provincial Council for "walking together and receiving the daily support of both institutions."
Vicente has confirmed that the estimated production for this campaign is around "two million kilos" and has highlighted "the fundamental role of water in defending the future of agriculture and of many families who live from it".
In the same vein, Serna has insisted on "the importance of water" to be able to obtain "products of such high quality as the breva of Albatera and from which so many families live".
The program of events surrounding this fruit continues in the coming days with gastronomic days that include an agritourism route, offerings in local restaurants during the weekend, and different activities to "bring closer, taste, and promote the star product of Albatera".
Aurora Torres, godmother of the breva of Albatera
In this edition, the breva of Albatera has as its godmother the chef from La Herradura, Aurora Torres, holder of a Sol Guía Repsol and known for her defense of the products of the Vega Baja.
Torres has managed, through a specific menu, to extend the season of a product "as seasonal as the breva is", thus demonstrating "the gastronomic versatility of this highly prized fruit".
In this context, the godmother of the cutting has emphasized that the breva is an ingredient that must be "defended, valued, and cooked with" and has explained that her presence in Albatera is due to the purpose of promoting "this marvelous product".
On the other hand, the delegate of the Consell in Alicante, Agustina Esteve, has highlighted the "gastronomic qualities of the breva of Albatera, which occupies a preeminent place in the Mediterranean diet", according to the Generalitat.
"Its flavor, texture, and its pairing capacity make it a unique product, with recognized quality both within and outside our province," she stated, later emphasizing that this native product is one of the "hallmarks of the Vega Baja".
Esteve added that the act of cutting the breva symbolizes "recognition of the effort" of the farmers, "who keep alive a crop linked" to the history and landscape of the municipality and its surroundings.
"Defending the breva of Albatera is defending our agriculture, our heritage, and a way of life linked to the land," stressed the delegate, who concluded: "Nowadays it is difficult to find a quality product that combines tradition, work, and proximity".
In addition to Pérez, Serna, Torres, and Esteve, also present at the event were the regional secretary for Environment and Territory, Sabina Goretti; the director general of Water and Rural Development, Lourdes Pérez, and the director general of Urban Planning, Miguel Ángel Ivorra, according to the Generalitat.