It is not a product usually seen on the shelves of supermarkets, but rather in specialty shops, and even so, in recent years, the consumption of Chinese cabbage has increased slightly in Spain, mainly as a result of immigration and the growing presence of Asian communities, especially in big cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Valencia. It should also, in any case, be noted that the popularity of oriental food in Western countries is on the rise.
Manoko F1, a variety from Bejo Ibérica S.L.
In fact, over the past ten years, the volume of Chinese cabbage cultivated in Spain has gone from being almost 100 % devoted to exports down to approximately 92 %. Valencia is traditionally the Spanish region growing the most Chinese cabbage, particularly in the area of La Ribera, and has done so for more than twenty years, but provinces like Almeria, Murcia and Malaga also produce it; regions with mild winters. The crop is grown by small producers, rather than by big companies in large plantations.
"Together with Portugal, Spain is Europe's leading Chinese cabbage producer in the winter and spring periods, exporting it mostly to countries that also produce and consume them, such as Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France, as well as to non-producers, like the Scandinavian countries," explains Juan Carlos Sánchez, of Bejo Ibérica's technical department.
Nevertheless, Spain's production has dropped in recent years. "The production and exporting window has always lasted from November to May, when Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France are unable to produce due to the low winter temperatures. But over the past five or six years, this window has been reduced to January, March and April due to improvements in the production's preservation and in the varieties grown, which have allowed for an extension of their campaigns. Additionally, more countries have adopted Chinese cabbage as a new spring crop, such as Hungary, which can offer more competitive prices," he points out.
With brassicas at the core of the company's varietal development, Bejo Iberica is the leading producer and distributor of Chinese cabbage seeds in Spain, with its flagship Manoko F1 variety.
"Manoko F1 is the most demanded variety by our clients due to its great productivity and precocity, as it can be harvested 55 days after transplantation. It closes firmly at the top and is very resistant to bolting, Tip Burn and Fusarium, the main problems normally affecting Chinese cabbage," concludes Juan Carlos Sánchez.
For more information:
Bejo Ibérica S.L.
Calle del Hervidero, 15
28750 San Agustín de Guadalix
Madrid - Spain
Tel.: +34 91 658 70 72