A month ago, hundreds of growers in Bajo Aragon starting the bagging of peaches that, come September, will be distributed under the distinctive black label of the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Peaches of Calanda.
This technique, as explained by one of those fruit growers, Ramón González Bielsa, consists in manually covering each piece with a bag, one by one, and is one of the key practices with the crop; the other, also important, is called thinning; a task that is carried out in May and which results in producers making "70% of the fruits" fall from the tree, leaving "a distance of about 26 centimetres" between all pieces selected for maturation.
The combination of both processes, together with the special microclimate south west of the Ebro river, guarantee the production of a fruit that is fully protected against pests and external agents, with a uniform maturation and a unique flavour, a strong aroma and an excellent sweetness.
Fifth generation
Representative of the fifth generation of a family devoted not only to peaches, but also almonds, olives and cereals, González Bielsa -58 years old- is also president of the Cooperative Society La Calandina, one of the 15 companies certified by the Regulatory Council of the PDO which, overall, bagged about 250 million peaches last year. However, not all of them end up earning the black label. In fact, once in the warehouse, the fruit is subjected to a new selection, with the discards going for the production of juices, for canning or for normal sale. This ensures that only "peaches of a certain calibre and a supreme quality receive the label."
Showing great passion for his work with peaches, Ramón assures that the trees need attention practically all year round and that there is nothing better "than having these efforts rewarded by the consumer with a fair price at the end of the campaign." In any case, he admits that it is becoming increasingly difficult, as "the big retail chains put pressure on prices" and that means "producers and consumers are affected." "We sell the peaches at the same price as 34 years ago," laments the grower, underlining (with some irony and grief) that he belongs to "a dying breed."
Source: eleconomista.es
