Navarre’s springtime took centre stage in a special edition of Julia en la Onda, the Onda Cero radio programme hosted by Julia Otero, which travelled to Larraintzar, in the Ultzama Valley, to discover some of the great natural, cultural and gastronomic treasures of the region of Navarre.
In this setting, gastronomy played a leading role through a conversation about local products, wine and food culture, and gastronomic tourism featuring Saray Turrado, Head of Marketing and Communication at El Navarrico, alongside Beatriz López from Reyna de Copas and Ana Rivas. It was an opportunity to highlight not only the gastronomic richness of Navarre, but also the history and philosophy of companies that have built their identity around local products and the territory itself.
A way of working deeply connected to origin
During the interview, Saray Turrado explained how El Navarrico has preserved, since its beginnings, a way of understanding preserves based on absolute respect for raw ingredients. “At El Navarrico, we aim to take care of the raw materials and work with the product in the most traditional way possible,” she explained during the conversation.
The company’s story began like that of many Navarrese preserving families: bottling products artisanally, with time, care and closeness. Their first products were simple preparations deeply connected to the local vegetable gardens, such as tomatoes and peppers. A philosophy that remains fully alive more than six decades later.
Navarre as landscape, culture and gastronomy
The conversation also served to highlight the gastronomic and cultural value of Navarre as a tourist destination. “In Navarre, every corner offers landscape, culture and gastronomy,” said Saray Turrado during the programme.
This idea is closely linked to some of El Navarrico’s projects beyond the product itself, such as the Museum of Preserves, located in the company’s former factory. The space has become a meeting point between history, gastronomy and tourism, hosting visits, tastings and activities that bring Navarre’s preserving culture closer to the public.
La Fábrica Vieja: experiencing preserves from the inside
Beyond simply showing how preserves are made, La Fábrica Vieja offers a complete immersion into Navarre’s gastronomic culture.
Visitors can walk through the old factory and discover the preserving history of the area while learning about processes, products and curiosities linked to Navarre’s vegetable-growing tradition. But the experience does not end there.
The project includes different gastronomic experiences designed to enjoy the product in a close and authentic way: visits with tastings, aperitifs, vermouth experiences and pairings where “opening tins” becomes an essential part of the experience.
Because understanding a preserve also means tasting it, sharing it and discovering everything behind it. In this way, Navarrese gastronomy is brought closer through real experiences that highlight local products, tradition and the pleasure of gathering around the table.
More than 200 references guided by the same philosophy
Today, El Navarrico offers more than 200 references in its catalogue, while maintaining the same values that have defined the brand from the beginning: product selection, careful production and respect for every ingredient. “We continue working with each product while intervening as little as possible in order to preserve its flavour and essence,” explained Saray Turrado, using white asparagus as an example, produced using only water and salt.
This way of understanding preserves connects directly with consumers who increasingly value origin, authenticity and honest production processes.
A company that continues to grow from the land
Present in more than 20 countries, El Navarrico continues to bring the flavours of Navarre’s vegetable gardens beyond its borders while maintaining a strong connection to the territory.
A company that, beyond preserving products, also contributes to job creation and helping maintain population in rural areas, strengthening the economic and social fabric of Navarre.