‘Garden of Eden’: the Spanish farm growing citrus you’ve never heard of
Todolí foundation produces varieties from Buddha’s hands to sudachi and hopes to help citrus survive climate change
TL;DR
- The Todolí Citrus Foundation in Spain is a nonprofit venture with the world's largest private collection of over 500 citrus varieties.
- Chef Matthew Slotover discovered the farm and was impressed by its rare citrus fruits, which he now sources for his London restaurant, Toklas.
- The farm grows citrus organically, without pesticides, creating a haven for wildlife and utilizing ancient irrigation methods.
- The foundation's technical director believes the genetic diversity of the citrus collection is vital for developing varieties resistant to climate change.
- Rare varieties like finger limes, trifoliate orange, and various Japanese citrus are being supplied to chefs, with potential applications in colder climates.