Good morning and happy Labor Day to everyone.
I hope today you treat yourself to a moment of calm, an unhurried coffee, and, if possible, a nap for the ages. You deserve it, after the rush we all go through during the year.
Here, in the Valencian orchard, I confess that we don't stop. Even though it's Labor Day, we keep working in the fields.
We are in the middle of the season and already preparing next week's new arrivals. The land is in charge and also sets the clock.
Rest time in the fields is dictated by the land, and right now it's dictating the opposite: it's time to work. As my neighbor says, the land doesn't understand holidays, it understands ripeness.
And when it says go, we get going.
I'll tell you in a hushed voice to whet your appetite. Next week, Antonio's blueberries, Vicent's potatoes, and bobby beans are back.
We perform the most scientific quality control in the world on the blueberries, which is tasting them until our tongues turn blue and we can no longer pretend it's for work.
Meanwhile, we continue with our routine, because you know that here we do things the old way but smartly. Every morning we check orders and go out to harvest only what you've asked for. It's that simple and that unusual in Spain.
No cold storage, no long waits, from the tree and from the field to your box.
This forces us to wake up really early; the rooster will mark us absent if we're late, but it's the only way for the produce to reach you as it should. We coordinate among ourselves, calls in the evening, audio messages at dawn, and a few jokes to keep our spirits up.
Antonio swears one of the blueberries said good morning to him, Vicent claims a potato winked at him—all very scientific, as you can see.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting artisan farm work and for advocating for a fair price for those who cultivate it. Here, we follow the steps our grandparents taught us: patience, hands in the soil, and eyes on the sky in case our plans change.
Today I wish you a peaceful day, enjoy it without a clock. If a family member asks you to move a sofa, tell them that your trusted farmer has prescribed active rest, which means not lifting anything heavier than a breadcrumb. If it works, send me the recipe for how you did it.
Next week we open with new products and great enthusiasm.
We'll be here, harvesting to order every morning and bringing the best we can do from the field to your home 🌾💪
Have a very happy Labor Day, and if possible, with a nap included. See you next week.
A huge hug from the Valencian orchard,
