Good morning,
Today I'm writing to you feeling a little nostalgic. This week we shipped the last harvest of one of our little gems. I walked the fields at dawn, checked the orders as I do every day, and we went to harvest on demand, as we always do.
And when I came back in the afternoon, looking at the trees, I felt that silence that only those of us in the countryside understand: the branches no longer hold any fruit.
The mandarin tree has said enough.
And understanding why, {nombre}, is not complicated.
Come, let me tell you among rows of orange trees.
Sometimes we forget, but nature is not an inexhaustible source. In the countryside, it's not the supermarket calendar that rules, it's the trees' calendar. And the tree is crystal clear when the season ends. There's no reset button, no churro machine. There's a cycle.
Resting in winter, waking up in spring, setting fruit, fattening it with the sun, and finishing with the cool autumn nights that refine the sweetness and acidity. That's why mandarins are so delicious when they're in season and not before or after.
I like to share this because we live by respecting that rhythm. We work with farmers all over Spain who pamper their trees just like their grandparents did.
We harvest on demand, which is unique here, so that what you receive comes from the tree and not from a warehouse.
However, we don't have any mandarins left, but we still have many seasonal products that we continue and will continue to harvest. Like blueberries, strawberries, and artichokes that make you sigh.
But, returning to mandarins, when there are no more, we don't send any more. It's that simple. We prefer to say the harvest is over rather than "out of stock," because it's not a failure, it's an honest sign that the tree has completed its work for this year.
That's why now, when we look at the tree and there's not a single one left, it's time to give thanks and let it rest.
I know sometimes you want mandarins in May, just as we'd like summer to last until Christmas. But the beauty of eating seasonally is that each fruit has its moment and its farewell. And when it returns, it tastes like a reunion. 🍊
So we're closing the mandarin curtain until next season. They'll return when the sun and cool weather give them their perfect touch again. We'll let you know as soon as they start to color, as we do every year, to harvest them in the morning and send them the same day.
In the meantime, we will continue to take care of the land, learning from what it teaches us, and working with our colleagues so that your table always has the best of each season.
I hope you enjoyed this season as much as we enjoyed harvesting and sharing them.
Thank you for joining us, for understanding that the countryside has its own rhythms, and for choosing a way of eating that cares for the tree and those who work it.
See you soon, may the next peel fall off by itself.
A big hug from Valencia 🌱
