Maíz y remolacha de quinta gama a ritmo de 'country'

Huercasa, a family-owned agri-food empire, has been a staple in the Spanish market since its founding in 1979 in Sanchónuevo, Segovia. The company's name derives from "Huerta Castellana," and it was established by Gregorio Maraña, Felix Moracho, his grandfather Tomás Martínez, and his French cousin Roger Roussel. Initially, they focused on hydroponic cultivation of endibias, a novel and complex technique originating from France and the Netherlands, before moving on to fifth-gear, a method that involves cooking and vacuum-sealing food for immediate consumption.

In the 1980s, Huercasa introduced red beetroot and sweet corn in vacuum-sealed packaging, which helped them gain a leading position in Europe. Over the years, they expanded their product line to include sweet potatoes, yams, legumes, and rice. Currently, 85% of their vegetables and legumes are exported to 42 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and North America.

In 2010, Huercasa shifted its focus to fifth-gear production, leaving behind the production of endibias. They process 40 million kilos of produce from 4,500 hectares of farmland in Spain, Portugal, France, and Romania. The company employs 350 people and has several projects in the works, such as increasing their sweet corn production capacity by 60% to 600 tons daily, and introducing black beans.

Their primary goal is to promote healthy and vegetarian eating habits, which is best exemplified by the Huercasa Country Festival, an annual event celebrating country music and their passion for agriculture.