1. Market Gardens of the Baix Llobregat Region

Baix Llobregat is one of the regions of Barcelona with the richest agricultural traditions, which is plain to see in the abundance of produce grown in its market gardens. Asparagus, cherries, broad beans and artichokes can be purchased at weekly farmers’ markets held in towns, or straight from the farms themselves, amid tools, animals and machinery. Would you like to meet the farmers who grow what you put on your table?

Highlights: 

Cal Nolasc: Part of the Baix Llobregat Agricultural Park, this farm grows organic vegetables, horticultural crops and fruits.

D'Enric Eco: Specialises in strawberries and tomatoes, depending on the season.

2. Slow Food in the Garraf and Penedès regions

The Slow Food movement is thriving in the Garraf and Penedès regions. There are plenty of producers who respect local culinary traditions and support sustainable, local agriculture. You’ll find farmhouses where you can buy organic vegetables and horticultural crops, farms specialising in rearing the native Penedès rooster, in line with the highest quality standards, and wineries that welcome you with a glass of malvasia wine!

Highlights: 

Vega de Ribes Winery: The same family has tended the vineyards of this winery since the Middle Ages.

Cal Sis Dits: A family farm in Vilobí del Penedès, offering organic garden produce and figs.

Espitlles Rural Farm: Authentic Penedès roosters, hens and young fattened hens.

3. Ancient Grain Varieties in Anoia

In Anoia, a region where wheat is the most important crop, there are still farms where flour is made using stone mills and where ancient grain varieties are cultivated that have been neglected elsewhere. Make the most of your visit to the area to see an apiary too: it’s fascinating to see bees in their habitat and learn how honey, pollen, propolis and sweets, etc. are made.

Highlights:

Josep Mestre’s Stone Mill: This farm cultivates ancient grain varieties and produces flour with a stone mill.

Mas Buret: An apiary with more than 200 hives.

4. Cured Sausage and Cheese Makers in Osona

In Osona, a pork-producing region par excellence, the finest artisanal producers are to be found in small-scale meat and cured sausage production facilities. Llonganissa (dry-cured sausage) from Vic is the star of the show, but you’ll also discover other delights including cheeses and other dairy products, craft beers and ratafia liqueurs, pastries and chestnut-based specialities.

Highlights:

Collfred. Authentic artisanal cured sausages from a farmhouse in Vidrà with its own livestock.

Masia Molí de la Llavina. This dairy produced the first blue cheese made in Catalonia.

Castanya de Viladrau (Viladrau Chestnut). Right next to Montseny Natural Park, an estate with legendary chestnut trees and an impressive catalogue of unusual products, such as the Catalan chestnut sausage.

5. Happy Animals in Berguedà

Bruna dels Pirineus cows (a special Catalan breed), Alpine goats, suckling lambs... If you like to see animals grazing peacefully in the meadows, Berguedà has many livestock farms that stick faithfully to traditional artisanal methods and raise happy, well-balanced animals.

Highlights:

Cal Roio. A great place to buy organic chicken and beef.

Cuirols Cheeses. Josep Venturós makes cheese the way his grandmother used to and personally oversees the entire process, from feeding the goats to the final labelling.

Ferreres Lamb. With a herd of lambs fed exclusively from the surrounding pastures, the meat sold by this farm is of unbeatable quality.

6. Maresme Strawberries

We end our journey in Maresme, a region well known for the quality of its peas, ganxet (hook-shaped) beans and, above all, its strawberries. The climatic and geographical conditions of the area make it ideal for growing this fruit all year round: in this part of the world, the strawberry defies its famous seasonality!

Highlight: 

Can Marpons. Over 40 years cultivating various strawberry varieties in Arenys de Munt.

• Are you interested in medicinal plants and the products made from them? Head to Santa Margarida i els Monjos during the Remeiart Fair and discover a host of artisans who work with herbs.