João Pinóia

João Pinóia was the first member of the Palmela Agricultural Cooperative. At that time, in the seventies of last century, 3000 tons of the famous local apple was produced. Last year only 5 were produced. Why? The producer replies: "In the past, apple trees were planted in all the vineyards. It was practically interspersed, a vine tree, an apple tree. It was a way for people to earn income during the year to pay for the vintage. But then came the subsidies for wine and most of them pulled the apple trees, even to get through with the tractors. "Pinóia did differently: in 2002 he picked up a property that belonged to his father and, in place of the vineyard, planted 600 trees of the Riscadinha de Palmela. Apples are the girls to his eyes, who shine when you speak of them: "It is a unique apple, in taste and aroma: just put 5 or 6 apples into a basket that perfumes a whole house." harvests from June, does not like too cold and has a shelf life of a week, no more than that. "And there is a curious thing, the medium-sized ones sell better than the big ones," adds João. In the same area, pears, broad beans, pomegranates, chestnuts, lemons, and peas also grow, "but only to give friends and family," he says. Because the apple is what matters here.