As simple as that, if the food we eat is clean, our bodies will be too. European common politic was established back in the '50s to answer a critical need: it was necessary to ensure every person in Europe had enough food to eat. The concept of “food security” was born, and since then, billions have been invested in this purpose.
Achieving that goal opened the door to the “green revolution”, the massive use of chemicals in crop cultivation: unitary production of farming land increased tremendously, but there was a price to pay, which was food quality.
After 70 years, the main concern is not food availability any more. This is why it is better to talk about “food safety”. Food safety means the food we eat is safe for our well-being. And Organic Farming is the answer to this challenge.
At B.M.S., we strongly believe in Organic practices: besides being the method to produce pesticide-free food, it has a smaller carbon footprint, conserves and builds soil health, replenishes natural ecosystems, and supports sustainable development and human relations. Moreover, by closely cooperating with over a hundred farming families, we can guarantee the highest quality standards since each step of the supply chain is under our careful and strict control, from farm to fork.
Organic production of legumes in Umbria
The predominantly hilly and verdant territory of Umbria is a gem, hidden right in the middle of the Apennines. The entire region is a never-ending rolling of irregular valleys composing a green undulated panorama, the reason Umbria is often defined as the green heart of Italy. This characteristic made Umbria a low-profile player in industrial farming, which helped maintain traditional crops such as legumes and biodiversity.
Nowadays, legumes have been rediscovered by the mainstream and are used for various preparation, especially for those who choose a vegetarian or vegan diet. And I'm proud to affirm that, in Umbria, we never forgot about legumes.
Besides cultivating the most famous legumes -chickpeas, lentils and fava beans - that are common in every part of the region, we are the keepers of two rare family members: cicerchia and roveja. Those heirlooms are semi-wild legumes, not suitable for mechanization: for this reason, they are mainly used in local food preparation as part of our heritage.
Connecting organic producers in central Italy
Connecting people is no easy task, but beautiful. I would say, it is the best part of the job, as it allows me to learn about the peculiarity of each area, to share great food (farmers never miss the opportunity to invite you for lunch or “merenda”). And, of course, to fall in love with nature and humanity.
Through the years, at B.M.S., we've been lucky enough to develop trustworthy long-term partnerships with more than 100 farming families in Umbria and the surrounding regions of Central Italy. Creating connections between them and working together on a joint project has always been fundamental to us. We want to get to know the hands that grow our raw materials and shake them all for supporting our vision and contributing to the quality of our products.
The importance of cooperation between you and Grashka
At B.M.S., we believe in people and fair collaboration.
As soon as we got in touch with Martin, we recognized the high potential of this collaboration. It was crystal clear that the Grashka project was something beyond business, so we tried to support him in finding the right ingredients for his delicious products.
We're happy to provide Organic Chickpea Flour, strictly proceeding from our direct supply chain and stone milled, and we're looking forward to supplying new ingredients for Grashka's new products.
Personally, I really enjoy the concept of fermented products: they have an enriched taste, naturally long shelf life and great nutritional values. I had the chance to try the whole range of Grashka products when I visited Martin in June 2022; they are all excellent! Moreover, it was great to discover that beautiful area of Slovenia and spend some time with Martin: a good connection and affinity with people make the job easier.
Connecting is very important for the Organic network to keep growing and expanding. Together we are stronger, and we can really make a better world.
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About Matteo
"After getting my bachelor in Agricultural Technologies and Sciences at University of Perugia, I have been working in my family business in Spoleto: I faced different topics throughout various position and I have participated actively to the development of the business. In the meanwhile, I have been practicing my profession and I have been involved in different projects regarding the agro-industrial supply chains with different companies, association and others professionals."
