Do you know that? Without too much exaggeration, it can be said that you can go around the world by walking through the “Mercado dos Lavradores”, ex-libris of the City of Funchal and even the Archipelago of Madeira, taking into account only the fruits.

There we can contemplate and taste such a palette of colors and flavors that it is difficult to believe that such richness and variety comes from the well-known and limited lands (poios), the narrow terraces that characterize the agricultural landscape of Madeira.

But this can only be understood if we take into consideration that practically all the edible horticultural plants and fruit grown here were, all and without exception, during these 600 years, INTRODUCED, acclimated and refined, becoming the basis of Madeiran food gastronomy, whose anthropology today it is based on local observation, ethnographic and historical research.

An excellent report of what is known in this area was published in Revista Islenha 63, which has just come out, and which recalls this important part referring to the history of the 600 years of territory occupation that guaranteed, over time, and until today, our survival and allows us to provide landscapes and gastronomic experiences even today offered equally to all who visit us.

Credits: 600 Years of Madeira and Porto Santo