Murcia is the leading exporter of Bimi® at the European level and, at the same time, is one of the United Kingdom's main suppliers. Spain, followed by the Netherlands and Portugal, is also at the top in terms of consumption of this vegetable, a close relative of broccoli.
There are currently six licensees in Spain, who are also growers, responsible for managing around 70 hectares intended for domestic consumption and around 850 hectares for export. Around 80% of the latter's production goes to the British market and the remaining 20% to the rest of Europe. "The prospect is to continue growing in all European countries, mainly with local productions during the summer in central and northern European countries and with productions for export and the local market in Spain, Portugal and Italy," says Alberto Alapont, Food Chain Manager of Bimi in southern Europe.
One of the added values of Bimi is that it is a sustainable crop for the producer. It requires a considerable amount labor for its production, harvesting and packaging. At the same time, it generates wealth in local economies, both in the field and in the warehouses, as it is harvested stem by stem, in a traditional way.
"Bimi is mostly produced on demand, which contributes to keeping the price stable each season and providing peace of mind to the producer. This price and value are fair for the agents in the food chain, including, of course, the consumer, who receives a product of excellent quality," says Alapont.
Bimi, which is available in the refrigerated vegetable section of many supermarkets, is increasingly in demand by European consumers, who are looking for nutritious vegetables with a good taste that are easy to cook. According to Alapont, they have "found that the Bimi consumer is loyal. More and more people are including it in their shopping lists. What began as a gourmet vegetable has been democratized among Spanish consumers. They like its unique flavor, somewhere in between that of broccoli and asparagus, its easy handling in the kitchen, and of course, its nutritional properties."
For more information:
Bimi
[email protected]
www.bimi.es
www.sakataiberica.com