Spain: Daikon radish, black radish and purple turnips grown in Galicia

The Daikon radish, black radish and purple turnips, which are originally from Japan, have managed to adapt to the weather and soil conditions of north-western Spain. This has been achieved by the Galician producer Diego Geada, who runs both open ground and greenhouse farms in Lugo. He has been growing these alternative products, which are rare not only in Galicia, but in Spain as a whole, for almost three years.

"We started planting Daikon radish because its anti-cancer and depurative properties caught our attention, and considering the rise in the popularity of Asian food in Spain and the fact that consumers are increasingly worried about their health, we were motivated to try something new. And the truth is that it has been successful so far, both because of its flavour and its properties," says the producer. "We then also introduced purple turnips, and recently we started growing black radish, and these have also been well-received by consumers."

Diego Geada is able to offer these products for about 6 months. "The germination process slows down a lot when the cold arrives; that is why we also grow them in greenhouses, which allows us to supply these products for 6 months," he explains.

The producer has both conventional and organic radishes and turnips available, since they were certified by the Regulatory Council of Organic Agriculture of Galicia.

"These vegetables are intended for the wholesale market in Spain, especially those of Madrid and Navarre, and are also sold to individual customers. They are mainly used in Asian restaurants, as well as by consumers of Asian origin or who are interested in this gastronomy. For now, we haven't exported any, but we are open to it, of course."

For more information:
Diego Geada
M: +34 605465281
[email protected]