The landscape in Florence surprises me once again as an exquisite work of art. Its uneven terrain and the intense green of its vegetation are combined with the work of two brothers, Oliver and Oliden, who are strengthening the production of covered tobacco for export in the UEB «Guadalupe».

The tobacco growing tradition in the municipality of Avila is known like the back of every inhabitant’s hand and they are no less so, perhaps that is why they are so enthusiastic when they talk about their experiences in this area since they were children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Covered tobacco for wrapper leaves is the most difficult to achieve and the most expensive to produce and they have been reconfiguring the Florentine vegas so that half of the leaves from the Chinese could be used as a wrapper for high quality Havana cigars.

The process starts at the seedbed, as Oliver says: «This is where the seedlings are produced and every time I fill the tunnel with 1000 trays I get about 40,000 seedlings, that’s about 4 or 5 hectares of tobacco, depending on the yield when I move it».

Among other aspects, they take extreme care in planting high-yielding varieties: 2021 and 2024. Particular attention is paid to the Vegas with the controlled curing and the benefit of the tobacco.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much of its quality is due to the soil and climate where it grows, in which it takes 40 to 80 days to be harvested and taken to the drying sheds or tobacco houses, where the leaves are dried naturally in the curing process. Once this has taken place, fermentation begins and then the destemming process is carried out in a traditional way.

Nothing is possible without the strong hand of the man in the furrow where the process begins and the caresses to the daughter finely experienced through the love of the women. Therefore, the labour force is essential. Oliden explains: «I have 22 labourers working in the fields. If we add those who take care of the seedbed, the pickers and those who work with the food, it is a total of 30 people. Forty percent are from the community of «Serrucho» and the other percent from «Guadalupe», and they are provided with transport and other services. Thus, the export of tobacco is not only a source of income for the country or the municipality, but also for those who produce it.

For the Chinese Oliver and Oliden, this land is their livelihood and the livelihood of many others. With a culture of detail worthy of note, there is no doubt that they contribute to the economy of the territory and the country.

I return to my reality with the tranquillity of that image that Florence always gives me, with its intense greens and its people who know as much about tobacco as they do about their lives. (Author: Alfredo Fernández Arcia)