Agroaldea
The next few days are celebrated 3 and 4 June at the Ateneo de Vecindario with nine presentations, a documentary, unreleased screenings, cooking exhibition and musical performance.
Does 130 years ago a group of English entrepreneurs gave rise to the cultivation of tomatoes for export in the Canary Islands, in order to supply the UK markets taking advantage of the empty return of coal ships.
Surely, These visionaries did not imagine the impact that this activity would have on the recent history of the Canary Islands., when determining the economics, demography, the geography and sociology of the Archipelago.
In these 130 years the “Canary tomato” has established itself as its own brand in European markets. So much so that many peninsular producers usually refer to their round tomato productions under the label 'Canary type tomato'..
The employers of the sector, FEDEX y ACETO, have designed a program of events that will take place throughout 2016 and you can consult at www.tomatecanario.es. The next scheduled event is the Conference of the 130 Anniversary of the Canarian tomato export.
Configured in four blocks, The Conference will address 'The Canary Tomato: from its origins to the present day', where Manuel Rebollo López, Doctor in Geography and History, ULPGC and Wladimiro Rodríguez Brito, Doctor in Geography, ULL, They will talk about the Origins of the cultivation of the Canary Tomato and the Splendor and decline of the Canary Tomato, respectively.
The second block will analyze the 'Keys in Production and Marketing: costs, varieties and market.’ Leonardo J. will intervene. Amador Diaz, Doctor in Biology and Head of R&D&i at Cultesa who will discuss “Orone, “The first commercial variety of tomato registered in the Canary Islands”. Andrew Zerpa, Head of Sales of the Victoria Trading Ltd group in the United Kingdom, will speak on the “Challenges of the Canary Island Tomato in the European market” and José Juan Cáceres, Doctor in Econometrics, ULL, will talk about “The production costs of the Canarian Tomato for export.”
In the block dedicated to 'The support framework for the Canary Island Tomato', Fernando Segura Cebada, Head of the Analysis and Coordination Service in the Ministry of Agriculture, Canary Islands Government, will address the “New Strategic Plan for Canary Island Tomato Exports.” Tomás García Azcárate, Former Councilor in charge of coordinating short-term economic analyzes of agricultural markets in the EU and Researcher at the CSIC, will delve into “The crossroads of the Canary Island Tomato in Europe”.
Friday's session 3 June will end with the premiere of the documentary 'The Long Journey of the Canary Tomato' by Gustavo Rodríguez, accompanied by a projection of unpublished historical images and the La Aldea Community Development Project, will conclude, with a representation of the packaging and cultivation activity of the Canarian tomato.
The fourth and final block, 'Origins, History and Gastronomy of Tomato', will feature the participation of Carlos Azcoytia, Gourmet and director of the publication 'History of Cooking and Gastronomy', Gastronauts Group, who will speak on the “Gastronomic History of Tomatoes”. Antonio López will continue, Councilor for Identity and Historical Heritage of the City Council of Santa Lucía de Tirajana, who will present the presentation “The Museum of La Zafra. A consolidated experience.”
The closing will be carried out by the chef of the Lilium restaurant, Orlando Ortega, who will hold a cooking demonstration with the Canarian tomato as the protagonist, with a varied exhibition of sweet and savory dishes.
Without a doubt, a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with this fruit and the ins and outs that turned it into a vegetable by legal imperative, how it got into our diet, What has it meant for the Canary Islands and what will its activity on the islands mean in the future?.