The Riofrío sturgeon farm, in Granada, Spain, offers ideal conditions for growing fish, fed exclusively with organic vegetables and fish meat from sustainable sources, in a natural environment, writes Euronews. Sturgeons have a slow metabolism and difficult growth, and the caviar production process is left to unfold naturally, without rushing it, explains veterinarian Ignacio Alba Alejandre from Caviar Riofrío.
The natural water comes from a town hall located just 300 meters upstream, and the organic caviar is produced only from sturgeon eggs and salt, without additives. The company markets approximately two tons of caviar in three varieties annually, exporting to countries such as Japan, Taiwan, France, Great Britain, Holland and Portugal. The most exclusive variety can reach the price of 8,000 euros per kilogram.
General Manager Carlos Portela emphasizes that the organic certification guarantees high standards and the subtle taste of the caviar offers an authentic experience, similar to that of eating caviar freshly caught in nature. In addition to caviar, the company also sells 15 tons of smoked or candied sturgeon meat annually.
Although caviar is considered a luxury product, it is now reaching new markets and consumers, being associated with special moments of conviviality. At Los Marinos José restaurant, located on the shores of the Mediterranean, caviar has become more and more present on the menus, and chef Pablo Sánchez López is trying to make it accessible to more customers, offering a novel culinary alternative.
In a global context, 70% of the caviar consumed comes from Chinese farms, not from Russia or Iran, and it is certainly not wild, Caviar Riofrío representatives conclude. For Romania, such a model of organic and sustainable production can represent an opportunity for development in the agri-food sector, especially in the context of increasing demand for premium and ecological products.
This article is an English translation and adaptation of the original Romanian article on Lista Scurtă. Read the Romanian version.
