Tropical fruits

Near to the Tropic of Cancer and located geographically close by the largest sand desert in the world, and bathed in the cool currents from the Gulf and subject to the tradewinds, the Canary Islands enjoy a subtropical climate which manifests itself, in the case of Gran Canaria and its uneven terrain, in fertile valleys and farming meadows that are ideal for the cultivation of fruit trees, even tropical fruits.

Beyond the famous, tasty Canary bananas, there exists a whole world of fruity delights which, thanks to the soil and the prevailing climate, are waiting for resident and foreign consumers to come and try them. They receive praise for their special sweet textures, their intense flavours and their freshness due to the fact they are picked locally. Different regions in the north and the south of Gran Canaria specialise in different fruits, thanks to the subtle changes of the micro-climate around the island.

Local cuisine is enriched by these varieties, which alongside more traditional fruits, provide a huge range of sustainable and healthy possibilities thanks to their nutritional and therapeutic properties. Simply by naming them we can tell exactly where they are grown, strengthening the ties between the quality of the product and their corresponding territory (delicate papayas from Gáldar and La Aldea, sweet tropical pineapples from Gáldar and Guía, tasty avocados –especially verruga avocados- and mangos from Mogán) not forgetting others spread around many other municipalities (guayava fruits, pomegranates and bananas) plus new crops being successfully introduced thanks the initiatives of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, who are working hard to guarantee the future of the agricultural sector (kiwis, dragon fruits, soursop, lychee, tamarind and star fruits).

Yuri Millares, December 2017