A peach with a lot of history in Alta Axarquía
Since the mid-19th century, peaches have been cultivated in Alta Axarquía. Specifically, this fruit tree was introduced at that time in the lands of Periana. It is not exactly a typical fruit of either the region or the province, but it has managed to establish itself, along with the verdial olive tree, as the agricultural emblem of this cozy town. According to what is still said today in the town, this summer fruit was introduced in the mid-19th century by a resident of the town, who was nicknamed 'The Red One'. He brought it from Argentina at a time when it was known as a peach rather than a peach. Some texts claim that 'El Rojo' tried this fruit in the South American country and kept a stone to show his neighbors.
Later, it was planted and the first peach tree in the town emerged from it. The new crop caught on among the farmers of Periana until it became one of the largest farms in the 1970s. Many consider it the highest quality peach in Spain. Its sweet and soft flavor distinguishes it from other peaches in the national geography and this is claimed every year in the celebration of Peach Day, which is usually celebrated in the town during the month of August – in some years it has not been able to be celebrated.
Quality
Although the people of Perian were slow to realize it, the peach began to enjoy national fame in the last quarter of the last century, when its production was around four thousand tons per season. Today the harvest is much smaller, but it is still of great quality. Neither droughts nor some pests have managed to diminish its uniqueness. This town in the Axarquía defends the importance of the climate and the characteristics of the soil so that they offer a fruit with those differentiating characteristics, which include not only its flavor but also its smell and its color. For this reason, today there is no doubt that the Malaga peach is from Periana. This fruit, which today is sold in the town itself and its surroundings, is usually consumed raw, although in Periana, especially on Peach Day, it is often added to sangria or as the main ingredient in some dessert.
Did you know...
In the last decade of the seventies, about 4,000 tons of peaches were produced in Periana.
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According to a legend, a resident of Periana nicknamed 'El Rojo' was the person who introduced the fruit to the town. He did it from Argentina, where he went to visit his brother who had emigrated years ago. That was where he tried this fruit. He liked it so much that he kept a bone to show to his neighbors. That stone was the seed of the first peach tree that was planted in Periana. Although this story is not completely verified today, it is the version that the residents of this Axarquian town use to defend the origin of the crop.
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The peach is a fruit very rich in fiber. Therefore, it is very appropriate to combat constipation and improve intestinal transit. Among its mineral components are potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and even iodine. As evidenced by its orange color, it is also an important source of carotenoids. Among the vitamins present in peaches, the most common is C, although it also has A and E. All three, together with their components selenium and zinc, serve to prevent cell aging.
