All the vegetables are key foods for a healthy nutrition due to its high content in protein and carbohydrates slow absorption. These are mainly resistant fiber and starch. They show a low glycemic index, highlighting their content in minerals and vitamins of group B. In addition, the consumption of at least three servings per week protects our Cardiovascular health and exerts beneficial effects on health gastrointestinal.
Quality legumes with PGI and PDO
Spain has quality legumes differentiated, with a high nutritional and organoleptic content. Under the European badge of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI), we have ten quality legumes. They are intended for human consumption and include beans or beans, chickpeas and lentils.
To be included under this european seal, vegetables they must be cultivated in a specific geographical setting. Should have geoclimatic characteristics individuals associated with the growing area. As well as maintaining a vhistorical link in the production area based on the tradition. From his cultivation, production, consumption and marketing.
Brianda vegetables, the difference between PDO and PGI lies in the location of the packaging industry, which may be, in the case of the PGI, outside the region of production. Since the packaging does not affect the organoleptic properties of the vegetables, the quality of the product is not altered in terms of quality.
In beans
Spain has 2 PDO and 8 PGI, being located in different Spanish regions. The production of bean of differentiated quality constitutes 9% of the national production. They include the following:
- PDO Mongeta del Ganxet Vallés-Maresme (Barcelona).
- Fesols of Santa Pau (Girona)
- PGI Beans from La Bañeza-León (Lion).
- Asturian Faba (Asturias).
- Lourenzá Faba (Lugo).
- Beans from Barco de Ávila (Avila).
In lentils and chickpeas
Instead, the production of lentils with PGI constitutes 7.7% of production and includes:
- IGP Lentil Tierra de Campos (León, Palencia, Valladolid and Zamora).
- Armuña lentil (Salamanca).
Finally, in the chickpeas we have the PGI Chickpea from Fuentesaúco (Zamora) and PGI Chickpea from Escacena (Huelva and Seville). Both constitute 2.5% of the national production.
Thus, for each of them there is a Regulatory Council who is responsible for verifying the traceability of the product and guarantee its quality. The quality legumes They are only sold packaged and with the seal of the Regulatory Council. Bulk sale never occurs.
Later, in future articles we will talk about each of the quality legumes differentiated present in the national territory and its own characteristics. As well as the influence they exert on the geographical environment in which it is grown, from an agronomic, gastronomic and cultural point of view.
Authors: Alfonso Clemente, President of the Spanish Legume Association and Javier Alonso Ponga, Technical Director of the IGP Lenteja Tierra de Campos.
