The Provincial Council of Castellón organizes throughout the weekend the XVI Mostra de la Trufa Negra de l’Alt Maestrat consolidating it at the national level among the oldest held in Spain and with the support of prestigious specialists who will value this precious fungus known in international cuisine as ‘black gold’. Thus, the Provincial Government promotes with a contribution of 10,000 euros this massive event that will bring hundreds of people to Catí contributing not only to value this product, but also to revitalize the area with a clear influx of visitors in shops and restaurants. So much so that visitors from places like Guadalajara, Cuenca, Teruel, Madrid, Tarragona, Lleida or Barcelona have already confirmed their participation.

The deputy of Rural Development and also mayor of the municipality, Pablo Roig, has been optimistic about the influx and development of a fair that, as he points out, “we have managed to position at the first level. We will have exhibitors, culinary demonstrations, courses and workshops and a multitude of activities aimed at enhancing the value of the truffle and promoting its opportunities in inland villages.

In that sense, he remarked that “the areas where truffles are grown coincide precisely with the most depopulated areas of our province, and this is something that the Provincial Government wants to reverse. I believe that quality actions such as this fair affect precisely that, in helping people to see how the enhancement of their products have a great potential to generate employment opportunities and future for its people”.

Thus, Roig assures that “we are consolidating this exhibition as one of the oldest and most reputable in Spain, which adds value to all the work we are doing to position our province as the best pantry in the Mediterranean”.

It should be noted that this is a monographic fair that is repeated every year, in an itinerant way, in the municipalities of Benassal, Culla, Catí and Albocàsser, at the most intense moment of the truffle harvesting season and when it has its greatest aromatic and flavor properties. Both truffle growers, technicians, scientists and marketers, regular consumers of this emblematic and exceptional product, as well as those who wish to approach it for the first time, gather annually at this event.

A complete program of activities for all audiences

Throughout the weekend, in the marquee of the fairgrounds, located between Mosén Joan Puig street and Plaza del Sol, will be the scene of dozens of activities for all audiences, where a market will be located with more than twenty booths linked to the sector, selling fresh truffle and processed products, mycorrhizal plants, fertilizers …. In addition, there will be an innovative ‘Truffled Tapas Table’ where attendees will be able to taste truffle dishes, thanks to the collaboration of local associations. There will also be a multitude of parallel activities, aimed at both professionals and the general public.

Tomorrow morning, Saturday 10, there will be a practical workshop on truffle dog training and a workshop on spore identification by the Truffle Advisory Service of the Diputación de Castellón, which will also be repeated in the afternoon in a second shift. To participate in these two activities it is necessary to register in advance at www.trufamaestrat.es.

At 4:30 pm is scheduled the presentation of the Association of Truffle Growers of Castellón (TRUFCAS). Similarly, at 17:30h, the fairgrounds will host a children’s cooking workshop sponsored by the AMPA of Catí, at 18:30h, a showcooking with tasting and commented wine tasting of the PGI Castellón by David Buch, president of the Association of Sommeliers of Castellón and Province (ASUCAP), as well as the musical performance of the group Decajón, which will close the day.

On Sunday morning, at 11:30 am, an interesting practical talk is scheduled for “Quality, conservation, aromas and differentiation of truffle species”, by Pedro Marco from the Center for Agrifood Research and Technology of Aragon. Not to be missed will be the traditional ‘Contest of the heaviest truffle’, sponsored by La Unió de Llauradors i Ramaders. From 10:45h to 11:30h, at the stand of La Unió, the truffles participating in this contest will be received, their weight will be checked and they will be exhibited to the public. The truffles must be presented in good condition and clean of any impurities. It should be noted that, in previous editions of lamostra, the winning truffles were around 400 gr., so the organizers of the event encourage participation in the contest in search of “a truffle of record”.

At 11:30 am a new edition of the black truffle, latuber melanosporum, search dogs competition will be held. This competition is one of the events that generates more expectation and where dogs can test their olfactory qualities to locate this precious fungus. The participants, who come from different parts of the country, will compete for trophies and cash prizes.

At 13:00h, the showcooking with tasting of the private chef and finalist of the prestigious contest “Chef of the Year”, Sergio Salvador, will be the last of the events before the awards ceremony.

More investment to position Castellón’s products

Actions such as the promotion of this Mostra de la Trufa Negra de l’Alt Maestrat or the recent participation in Madrid Fusion are part of the strategic commitment of the Diputación de Castellón to help improve the consumption of local products of the province through its brand Castelló Ruta de Sabor.

Thus, the Provincial Government will raise this year to 987,000 euros its investment directly for this purpose and thus consolidate its commitment to gastronomy as a generator of new opportunities in the municipalities of the province. It should be noted that after four years of trajectory, this brand of the Provincial Council, Castelló Ruta de Sabor, has managed to bring together more than 100 producers from 15 different food sectors, two designations of origin, a Protected Geographical Indication and 6 products with distinctive Natural Park.