The baby vegetable campaign has just begun in the South of Spain and it will last 12 months for the Sevillian company Sweet Veggie.
"So far, everything is on track with our plans. However, we know that the Christmas and Easter seasons will be critical tests, as demand tends to push our capacity to the limit", say Manuel López-Herrera and Enrique Parias, founders of Sweet Veggie.
"Enrique and I are veterans in the sector. We started Sweet Veggie five years ago. The early days were tough, but the specialization we've achieved has made this venture incredibly rewarding. Seeing chefs and catering professionals get excited about our products brings us immense satisfaction", explains Manuel.
According to Enrique, the project began because they already had experience with baby products. "However, relying on external production presented challenges, especially in maintaining consistent quality. So, we decided to produce our own baby vegetables. We started small, using a manual seeder and managing most of the work ourselves. The early years were hard, but they were crucial for building the expertise we now have".
"Today, we are fully dedicated to baby vegetables, particularly carrots, rainbow carrots, leeks, turnips, zucchini, fennel, and beets. Our quality is unmatched compared to when we began. Another key change is that we now produce year-round, no longer limiting ourselves to seasonal production", points out Manuel López Herrera.
There are two main differences between baby vegetables and conventional ones according to Enrique Parias: "First is the flavor. Baby vegetables, like young leeks, are tender, less fibrous, and have a sweeter taste because they are harvested immature. Second is their aesthetic appeal. For instance, a baby carrot beautifully complements a plated dish in ways that chopped larger carrots cannot. Chefs often request specific lengths and shapes to enhance the presentation, which has driven us to experiment with varieties and planting densities to meet these expectations".
"Looking ahead, we're both optimistic but realistic. This will always be a niche market. Our focus is on gradually growing consumption in countries where it is still low, such as Spain. We believe in the potential of this market and are committed to its development", they highlight.
For more information:
Manuel López-Herrera
Sweet Veggie (Office in The Netherlands)
M: +31 653751266
[email protected]
www.sweetveggie.es
Enrique Parias
Sweet Veggie (Spain)
Enrique Parias Sweet Veggie
M: +34 663267919
[email protected]
www.sweetveggie.es