Good morning, how's your week going?
Here, in the Valencian orchard, we're already feeling that pleasant tingling of big news: this Thursday we'll have new harvests again and you can't imagine how excited we are.
So, keep an eye on the website because there are some highly anticipated returns.
It's not just us, who have been refining every detail between the fields and the warehouse for weeks; many of you have also been asking us about a particular return.
Today I want to tell you about something that has found its niche in Valencian lands, even though citrus has always been our thing here.
Can you guess what I'm talking about?
That's right, blueberries are back this week.
Let me set the scene. Valencia and its surroundings have very chalky soils, excellent for orange and mandarin trees, but blueberries don't do well with them because they prefer more acidic environments. Antonio, who is handier than a grandpa in a hardware store, solved this with an open-air hydroponic cultivation system using pots filled with coconut fiber.
Simply put, the blueberry doesn't grow in the field's soil, but in a large pot full of coconut fiber, which is like a natural sponge. It drains well, retains just the right amount of moisture, and allows the roots to breathe comfortably.
This way, Antonio can manage the water and acidity like a watchmaker, and the blueberry grows happily outdoors, with sun, breeze, and no confinement.
And why do I emphasize "open-air"? Because the flavor changes. When the blueberry ripens outdoors, it receives more direct light, notices the small differences between day and night, and the breeze helps the skin become a bit firmer.
All of this translates into a bite with more character, with that balance between sweetness and a touch of acidity that makes your mouth water and fills it with aroma. Those that grow indoors are very consistent, which also has its charm, but Antonio's have that country touch that makes you think of the fresh morning and the rising sun.
There's another point that makes a difference, and here I'm a bit proud because, as you know, our fruit is harvested to order. Every morning I review the orders, and we go out to harvest what will be shipped that same day.
It's slower and more expensive for us, but the fruit arrives with all its firmness and with that natural powdery bloom you see on the blueberry's skin, a sign that it has been pampered and hasn't been tossed around unnecessarily.
With blueberries, this is important, because if you wait, they lose turgidity and the flavor fades. Harvested in the cool morning, carefully packed, and on their way to your home with no intermediate naps. From the field to the bite, as our elders taught us.
I like to think that this project is a conversation between generations. We work the land as our grandparents did, with thought and patience, and at the same time, we rely on simple and natural solutions so that new crops fit in orange-growing lands.
And when something works as well as Antonio's open-air blueberries, you can taste it and see it in the smile. But be quick, or you'll miss them; I know how popular they are.
This Thursday, they'll be back on the website, freshly picked, firm, and tasting of the countryside. I'm already sharpening my shears and getting the boxes ready.
If you want to taste the difference, check it out that day and treat yourself. And if you get a craving at odd hours, don't blame me when you finish the punnet without realizing it; more than one has been devoured here at midnight with witnesses.
Thank you for being on the other side, for asking, for waiting, and for upholding this bridge between our fields and your table.
Sending you a big hug from the Valencian orchard ☀️
Until next time.
