The artichoke is a vegetable (flower bud) that is increasingly appreciated in Spanish cuisine and which has an international projection. The most highly rated is still the White artichoke of Tudela, which is protected by a PGI. It has an elongated shape, a small hole and is very tender, and its reputation beyond the Spanish borders continues to improve.
Vehortu, a company based in Ribaforada, Ribera de Navarra, wanted to offer an alternative to fresh produce, and thus supply the market 12 months a year.
"In this region, we have the best White Tudela artichoke," says Sebastiana Ruíz, Vehortu's manager. "We buy it from local producers, within a radius of 15 km. It is harvested in the morning and in the afternoon it is already processed. First we clean it, peel it and cut it by hand; then it is vacuum-packed and pasteurized in a short cycle. This extends the product's shelf life while keeping the organoleptic, nutritional, and sensory characteristics intact," says Sebastiana.
The result is a processed product. "Opening a bag of our artichokes is just like having the fresh product, but saving you the cumbersome tasks of cleaning, peeling, cutting and blanching. It isn't a ready-made dish, because it isn't cooked," explains the manager.
"We have been in the market for less than 2 years and this year we expect to double the artichoke production volume and reach 250,000 kilos. Our customers come mainly from the catering sector. For them, having an alternative with the same characteristics as the fresh product is a great advantage. It doesn't require handling, with the consequent saving of time, and allows you to have the product always available," explains Sebastiana.
Artichokes are a delicate crop and the weather conditions can sometimes have a disastrous impact. "If there are frosts or heavy rains, it cannot be harvested. Furthermore, between two campaigns, you can have a gap of 3 months without supply. That gap can be filled with a product like ours, thus making artichokes available to everyone 365 days a year," says Sebastiana Ruíz.
Speaking of the usual pressure exerted by other countries in the fresh or industrial sector, the Vehortu manager tells us that "for the fresh or processing industry, countries like France, Egypt, Morocco or Algeria are tough competitors, however, the ready to cook or ready to eat ranges are not affected."
Thanks to the international interest in Spanish artichokes, Vehortu is opening negotiations with markets such as China, Germany, France, the UK, etc. mostly for the supply of gourmet stores or catering distributors. The creation of an organic line is another project for this young company, which also markets Piquillo and Palermo peppers, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, leeks or onions, among other products; all high-end or premium.
In 2018, the Salon Gourmet awarded Vehortu the “First Prize in Product Versatility” for its artichokes.
For more information:
Sebastiana Ruíz
Vehortu
Plaza San Pancracio
31550 Ribaforada, Navarre. Spain
(+34) 948 864 501
[email protected]
www.vehortu.com
