Fruit and vegetables form a key part in any healthy diet. With fruit and vegetables from the EU, Mexican gourmands can enjoy wholesome and delicious produce throughout the year, confident in the knowledge that they are not only getting all the minerals and vitamins they need, but also that the fruit and vegetables that they consume have been grown and processed to the highest of standards.
A dazzling diversity of delicious ingredients
Europe’s farmlands are very diverse, from the sunny highlands of Greece to the rolling green fields of Ireland. This diversity of soils and climatic conditions means that fruit and vegetables grown in Europe come in a wide assortment of flavours and textures. As such, they are healthy ingredients that can be used in a wide range of Mexican dishes. Why not use tasty European tomatoes to add a true taste of Europe to any spicy salsa, for example.
The EU organic leaf logo signifies that products are produced to the highest environmental, health and safety standards. There are currently almost 300,000 hectares of organic fruit orchards in the EU, producing top-quality fruit. The European fruit crop offers a wide choice – spanning apples, pears, peaches, plums, oranges, lemons, watermelons, and much, much more. All of these fruit can be enjoyed fresh, or used as ingredients in jams and sauces.
Mexican cuisine with a European flavour – an ideal combination
It is said that ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ thanks to their health-giving properties. Well, Europe’s apples are as delicious as they are wholesome. For example, crunchy and juicy Polish apples can be enjoyed fresh or used as an ingredient in pies and pancakes – and ideal way to add a taste of Europe to an apple enchilada. Likewise, Bambinella pears from Malta are juicy and fragrant when fresh, and delicious in desserts and other dishes. Why not try them in a manchamanteles stew!
And let’s not forget about vegetables. Again the range is enormous – from potatoes grown in almost all EU countries, such as Belgium, Germany and Poland to delicious peas from Latvia or the Netherlands – Europe’s vegetable cornucopia includes peppers, eggplants, courgettes, cucumbers and gherkins, carrots, radishes, onions, shallots and leafy stalked vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, chicory, endives, asparagus, and artichokes. Why not put some carrot sticks from Europe’s main carrot producer Poland in your kid’s school lunchbox, for a delicious lunchtime treat.
Garlic, paprika and saffron are popular ingredients in Mexican cuisine and are firm favourites in Europe too. As such they are an ideal way to add a little European flavour to any Mexican dish. Try Ail rose de Lautrec (PDO), a pink garlic that has been popular in France’s Lautrec region since the Middle Ages, Hungarian paprika, or Krokos Kozanis saffron (PDO) from Greece to add a European flair to savoury dishes.
Health and safety, backed up by standards
Across Europe, from farm to fork, there are best practices and safety processes in place that ensure that the fruit and vegetables produced are of the highest quality. The use of pesticides and herbicides is strictly controlled and, driven by public demand, the organic fruit and vegetable sector in Europe is booming. Even non-organic farmers are taking steps to reduce their use of crop protection chemicals.
In total, EU 459 fruits and vegetables have PGI and PDO protection, of which 21 are covered by the EU-Mexico Free Trade Agreement. This dazzling range is used as ingredients in many of the authentic recipes that make Europe’s culinary heritage unique and they can also add a flavour of Europe to many Mexican dishes. For this reason, they are an ideal starting point to take a taste journey around Europe from your kitchen table. Bon voyage!
