Vive las verduras

Presentation of Caviar del Reyno

With the support of SODENA (19.5%) and the Department of Rural Development and the Environment of the Government of Navarre.

“Caviar del Reyno”, at the 2nd 'Vive las Verduras' Conference.

Production of this premium foodstuff will take place at the Yesa fish farm.

The first adult female sturgeon arrived in Navarre at the beginning of May.

At present there are only 19 fish farms producing caviar in the world.

Riofrío officially presented the registered trademark of "Caviar del Reyno" at the 2nd International 'Vive las Verduras' Conference, under which it will be marketing caviar from the sturgeon soon to be bred at the existing fish farm in Yesa (Navarre).

This was explained by the Manager of Caviar del Reyno, Diego Pozas, in his presentation, which took place on the first day of the 2nd International “Vive las Verduras” Conference.

SODENA (Navarre Development Company) secured a share in the project with a contribution of 5 million euros destined for investment, commercial development and the execution of the project. This public company holds 19.5% of the company's capital and will be a partner in the project for at least six years.

The breeding of sturgeon and production of their caviar brings high added value to the sector and there is barely any international competition. Furthermore, the product falls within the premium haute cuisine segment, it is produced ecologically (there are no chemicals used, the fish are well cared-for and they are not force-fed to increase their size rapidly). Riofrío is currently marketing its caviar under the brand name of Caviar de Riofrío. Given its commitment to producing this gastronomic luxury in the Region, it is launching a new brand on the market: "Caviar del Reyno”.

At present there are only 19 fish farms producing caviar in the world. Within the next few months, Navarre will be number 20 thanks to the commitment of this joint venture.

Breeding the sturgeon at the Yesa farm will involve three phases: during the first and second, the adult female sturgeon are transferred and their growth and caviar production are monitored. In the third phase, envisaged for October 2011, it is hoped that most of the company's production will be done in Navarre.

The first female sturgeon were shipped to the Navarrese fish farm at the end of May 2008. The Yesa plant has a surface area of 200,000 m2 of land and 46,000 m2 of pools, an infrastructure that is more than adequate for this operation.

The sturgeon bred for the caviar commercialized by Riofrío belong to the Acipenser Naccarii (Adriatic sturgeon) variety, production from which starts when they are around 15 - 18 years old, in contrast to other species who need a shorter time. Given that some of the fish have already reached maturity, Riofrío has been marketing its caviar since 2001.

Riofrío, the founding company of the Sierra Nevada fish farm and a promoter of trout farming in Navarre in 1956, is endorsed by various quality certificates and organic farming certificates such as the CAAE (Andalusian Organic Farming Committee).

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