I’m glad we went to the Diada d’Agricultura Ecològica (agricultural fair of organic food) in Porreres, yesterday. I came away a happy man. Mind you, I am a happy man most of the time. It was a pleasure to see the vast range of organic wine, for instance, or other products such as honey, oil, cheese, spices, jams and bread, all made by organic means, plus plenty of organic fruit and vegetable. With the usual delay, Mallorca now slowly but surely is joining the trend for unadulterated, healthier food. Mind you, it all has a hefty price tag attached. I was surprised to see that such elevated price levels could be commanded in these dire days of economic hardship and high unemployment, here in Spain.

Some of our friends were sad to have missed the opportunity. But worry not. There will be a Mercat Pagès next Sunday, April 17th, in Santa Maria, where plenty of organic food items will be available for tasting.

In fact, here in Mallorca this week is dedicated to the Lluita Pagesa i Contra els Transgenics. Via Campesina, a global organisation of small farmers and peasants, has declared April 17th an International Day of Protest against GMOs and patents on life, and campesinos in Mallorca will participate in their battle against GMO and in their concern for a dignified life for everybody.

Also, I came away from Porreres in a happy mood because we were able to purchase some edible flowers. You probably know that a whole range of flowers are edible, from nasturtiums to courgette flowers (see photo), chive blossoms, sweet roses, pansies and violas, almond blossoms and those of apples and plums, borage, camomile, lavender, lemon, lovage, mimosa, orange, peach, chrysanthemums, daisies, geraniums, jasmine, lilacs, marigolds and violets. The trick is to not eat any such flowers which are sold in flower stalls because they are grown with plenty of pesticides. One has to purchase one’s edible flowers from a shop specialising in edible flowers. Luckily, there is now a market gardener, Maties Adrover in Manacor, who specializes in such organically grown flowers for eating purposes, such as roses, carnations, onions, sweet peas, begonias and a few others more. These edible flowers are then sold in stalls in mercats in Palma as well as in Manacor and Felanitx. Aren’t we lucky.

The photo was taken in Porreres, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: April 10th, 2011. The time was 12:03:55.