Maltese Bambinella fruit a success at London's Marks & Spencer

Geir Nilsen

Aug 16th 2009, 11:37

So to follow and sum up: Arrogant people like Berlusconi and Chirac wouldn't even make it in local elections in the Nordic countries. In fact, our current Norwegian prime minister was unpopular for a very long time because he made a dent on another car when parking. If you as a minister cheat on your tax you are out the window before you know it.

A long time ago I dated an Italian girl from Padova, and she was really shocked that I hadn't been to Italy by then (but, but, but BELLA ITALIA and all that!". I asked her if she had been to Norway, and she was similarly shocked that I even asked. Italians don't even speak a second language. You probably don't even know either, but Norway has some of the most spectacular nature in the whole world. I have met people claiming that one cannot swim in Norway, and that we don't have beaches. Fact is that even in the sea (lakes get warmer) one can have 24C at the warmest. Around Britain it is 16-17C maximum because of how the Gulf works. So, there you have it. It's down to pure arrogance and ignorance.

Geir Nilsen

Aug 16th 2009, 11:10

Just because Northern Europeans don't brag (unless they get provoked), it doesn't mean that everything we do is crap. It's just not part of our culture. Here and elsewhere in the Mediterranean people won't think you're up to anything unless you do.

Jacques Chirac and Silvio Berlusconi have both unprovokedly ridiculed Finnish food claiming it is the worst in the world. Berlusconi also stated that Finns eat smoked reindeer, a Norwegian or Russian dish not found in Finland. He claimed that the Finnish don't even know what prosciutto is (which just means (dry) ham), which also is untrue. Quite bold and harsh from the Italians' national hero who doesn't even speak a second language. The Finns speak at least three, and I have a sneaking suspicion they even have their own word for ham. Asking my Finnish wife now, she confirms that they do...

Berlusconi thinks, like all Italian men do, that he is God's gift to women. He claimed he made the female Finnish prime minister change her mind using his playboy skills. "The Chinese fertilized fields with boiled babies". "I'm the Jesus Christ of politics". Chirac walked out of a EU meeting because he refused to speak English.

Geir Nilsen

Aug 16th 2009, 10:32

Joe Fenech: And you who have not been to Norway are over-confident that we have the worst food in Europe. How do you explain that in the whole world only France have won more awards than Norway? We have 4 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze in Bocuse d'Or (World Championships): http://www.bocusedor.com/2009/en/concours/palmares.php since it started in 1987. Apart from Norway/France, only Sweden and Luxembourg with their one gold each have won it. France have 6-2-1, but France have 12 times more people, so Norway is in a class of its own in the world. Oslo, with 500.000 people (comparable to Malta's 400.000), have six restaurants (some with several stars) listed in the Michelin guide this year. Tokyo has the most in the world with its 150, Paris 97 has second most. But they have 30 and 12 million people respectively. How many Michelin restaurants have Malta? None? How's that possible? Only Ta' French in Gozo has impressed me, but even that one would be regarded as very average in Oslo or Bergen. Jarlsberg is Norwegian and is sold everywhere in the world. It is the most sold speciality cheese in the USA after cheddar of course (more everyday cheese).

Geir Nilsen

Aug 15th 2009, 23:44

And Joe Fenech: What makes you think that I don't travel? I have been virtually everywhere in Europe, USA, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Fiji, Tahiti, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE etc.

I am quite sure I have travelled more than you. Furthermore, I have been a chef at an award-winning Norwegian pizza restaurant for 2.5 years. Of the ingredients we used were an abundance of real, top QUALITY beef (not mince), king prawns (not prawns), pepperoni (not salami). Everything was top quality, and the tourists were shocked to see how good the food was. We even had an american restaurant owner coming to our restaurant for tips.

You see, we do both deep pan and Italian style. The deep pan is meant for 3-4 people and costs 25 euros. But it is 10-15 euros worth of ingredients... Keep in mind that ingredients are similarly priced as in Malta. You'll rarely see waitresses who don't know the menu by heart. In Malta they rarely do, and service is horrendous. We went to the Tex Mex again last night, and the beef tastes like very chewy lamb. We couldn't even eat it and felt sick afterwards.

Geir Nilsen

Aug 15th 2009, 23:22

Joe Fenech: Stop embarrassing yourself. The northern strawberries are so sweet and tasty you wouldn't believe it. Here they taste very little and are rotten. You haven't even been to Norway, so you have some cheek! I have lived in England for five years and Malta for four. Use Google Translate to read the link I sent. Are you really arguing against scientists? Shows you know nothing about food and chemistry.

Fact is that English strawberries in theory should be much better than the ones in Malta for instance, but the supermarkets are too greedy.

Norwegian cuisine? The TRADITIONAL food we have is boring, just like Malta, but the quality of the food is the best in the world, and we have Indian, Italian etc. Take my word for it. You can't get proper food in restaurants in Malta. That is one of the real downsides to living here. Nobody cares here. Why do you think Malta is in the state it is? All the Nordic countries produce 3-4 times more money per person than Malta. Fluke? No, hard-working perfectionism. Everything just WORKS in Scandinavia, and the food actually tastes something.

Martin Spiteri

Aug 15th 2009, 20:04

@ Joe Fenech

your very colourful ideas make me smile. Just imagine if Hong Kong takes up your venture and ideas! or imagine if urban areas would be removed to produce olives kappar . Are you interested in hobz biz zejt tourism? your far right politics sound more communist bolshevic style than far right!

Joe Fenech

Aug 15th 2009, 14:49

Tony Borg, Mark Vassallo:

No one here is putting Malta down! People are very angry and realistic : it's TOO LATE to develop farming when our greedy incompetent government has sold Malta to property developers and there is no land left.

I would have loved to see Malta producing olives, olive oil, fruit, herbs etc (it is capable of producing fantastic stuff) and have buildings that are organic with the the place like every Mediterranean country, but TROPPO TARDI !!!

Greed, greed, greed...and mentalita meskina! It's very sad..

Get rid of Gonzi and co and bring in a new RIGHT party!!! Bezzina, Lowell, and AN - TEAM UP !!!!!!

Joe Fenech

Aug 15th 2009, 14:48

Geir Nilsen:

Nonsense!!! Have you ever tasted strawberries in Italy and South of France??? Even re English strawberries - they're very nice. Being picked when unripe? Well, those are the supermarket varieties! Go to markets and you'll see.

And also...not having a Norwegian (Norway has the worst cuisine in Europe! FACT!!!!) lecturing me.

Re living in the UK - do you thing we Maltese haven't lived round Europe too? I've lived in several European countries and travel constantly. I can assure you that I know my food!

M Bonello

Aug 15th 2009, 12:07

That is a good move, hopefully I would be able to get some local produce up here in the UK.

Stop being all whiners, at least in Malta you get fresh produce. Here in the UK, its almost impossible to get fresh fruit, especially in supermarkets, as all the fruit are packed and kept in fridges for ages.

Its been ages since I last took a nice tasting lemon, or fresh oranges. Most of them are dried up by the fridges, and time it took to travel. Stop grumbling. In Malta we have luck because most of our food comes fresh from the farmers.

Its something one really misses up here in the UK.

Mark Vassallo

Aug 15th 2009, 11:45

I don't get it... Maltese Farmers do something good by exporting a good Maltese fruit and what do we do.... try to find something wrong. What is wrong with M&S ? Well Done to the maltese farmers... Why not try to export some people next time? Maybe someone who thinks that by exporting bambinella will destroy malta in some way..

Again Prosit to all maltese farmers

Geir Nilsen

Aug 15th 2009, 11:00

Joe Fenech and John Inguanez:

You really don't have a clue. Maltese and Cypriot strawberries have almost no taste due to the strong sun. The further north you go, the better they are. First of all, we have different and better tasting strawberries in Norway that would barely survive in Malta. Second, and perhaps more importantly is the very long days with low sun-intensivity. This makes the period from bloom to harvest a lot longer, and the longer it takes the more aroma is developed. It's also very important to not pick them too early, because the last few days are crucial. No aroma at all is added before the last stage.

Scientifically proven: http://www.klikk.no/mat/spise/article468030.ece

This is why you'll have a problem in Malta no matter what. Even if you pick them just before they go off, they taste mostly water. Sun is way too strong, and days too short. I have also lived in England for five years, and even there it is a problem as storage time in shops are very important there. Berries are picked before they turn red, hence the water taste. Nordic, Russian and Canadian are BY FAR the best in the world.

Sharon Spiteri

Aug 15th 2009, 10:59

Haha! I thought I saw bambinella at my local store but, not knowing it's English name, thought I was dreaming! Now I wish I had bought some anyway.

D Muscat

Aug 15th 2009, 10:26

Congratulations ! This a very good example of what the maltese can produce ! We should push our local product , I cant understand why some people always grumble, even if something is good ! can you find something positive to say ! come on have some Fresh fruit this morning it's good for you LOL !!!!

Joe Fenech

Aug 15th 2009, 10:14

Schembri Ray :

Prickly pears are very common round all the Mediterranean region and some people are even growing them in northern countries.

Their disappearance and the quasi total disappearance of carob trees in the last 20 years is a monumental symbol of the irreversible eco disaster Malta has suffered. Prosit Gonz!!!

M Camilleri

Aug 15th 2009, 09:44

As a restaurateur and a client , well done to Mr Axisa and Ta Qali Producers group ! true, , these people supply very good quality products ! wish you succses in this new export venture !

J.Debono

Aug 15th 2009, 09:14

This is something to be really, really proud of!!!! Prosit!!!

Schembri Ray

Aug 15th 2009, 08:36

Congratulations for exporting a truly maltese product.
Once we were on a holiday in Germany and we organized a maltese night. As a son of a farmer I took with me prickly pears (both pinkish/red and yellow). All the foreigners were impressed with the taste and the Israelies told me that although they have them in their country they don't have the pinkish/red variety. Maybe Mr Axisa will have a stand for maltese products. Well done for helping the maltese farmers showing what we can produce.

Tony Borg

Aug 15th 2009, 06:30

What a lot of whingers you are. Can you stop running Malta down??? For goodness sake find something positive to say just for once. Apart from whingers like you lot; that really make the Island look UGLY, VERY UGLY; Malta is a terrific place to live.

F Brincat

Aug 15th 2009, 04:40

Interesanti, Nispera li l-Gvern jghin u jaghti incentiv lil-kumpaniji bhall dawn li jipromovu il-biedja u l-prodott lokali , peress li l-konsum min barra ta dan il-prodott jsta jkun qawwi , zgur jiftah opportunitajiet ghall hafna bdiewa maltin.

Frans Gafa

Aug 15th 2009, 00:51

Il-Prodott Malti huwa bnien u jekk noqghodu attenti nistghu insibu swieq il-barra min xtuna , bhall fil-kas tal-bambinella , nispera li l-gvern jghin lil produturi bhall dawn li mhux biss jofrulna frott ta kwalita ghall lokal imma wkoll isibu toroq godda ghall esportazzjoni, nixtieq nghid wkoll li M&S huma stores ta iprem kwalita u ghalhekk iktar u iktar zgur li sar xoghol tajjeb fuq il-prodott u hu ta kwalita gholja ! AWGURI... TQPG

Martin Bonello

Aug 15th 2009, 00:41

Maltese Bambinella fruit a success at London's Marks & Spencer!!!!! , exporting to M&S is no joke ! Congratulations Ta Qali Producers Group and to the Maltese products !

Fmanduca

Aug 15th 2009, 00:31

Well Done! Ta Qali producers group has a very high standard and quality fruit and Veg products , hard work and honesty pays ! Good work !!

Mary Grech

Aug 15th 2009, 00:24

This good news for our Maltese products ....prosit , I always admired the service and the good products Ta Qali Producers Group produce !!

S bartolo

Aug 15th 2009, 00:19

Well done to TA Qali producers group ! I

Joe Fenech

Aug 14th 2009, 09:53

norbert schembri :

Spot on!!!!

Too late guys! Malta's finished. Now you want to develop farming? Where are you going to farm in the orchards of the 'luxury (!) apartments or are you going to be growing banana in our concrete jungle?

Now...our greed mean hard times for Malta in 30/40 years' time when countries are going to have to rely almost entirely on their local produce due to world food shortage. I hope Gonzi reads international papers!! Maybe, some property developer will come and feed us!!!!!! Greed kills you!!!

By the way: do you know the financial situation of M n S and that it’s been making increasing losses over the years (in fact many of their food outlets have been closed)? Or did we choose to work with them because that was the only foreign supermarket we knew???

Graham Crocker

Aug 14th 2009, 00:46

Leave some for us imma ehh.

Joe Fenech

Aug 14th 2009, 00:12

John Inguanez

"Once in Austria I saw strawberries from Cyprus, they won't compare with third grade strawberries in Malta."

What are you on about???? I just can't take such misplaced-patriotism!!! Cyprus strawberries are bad???? Oh, come one!!!! Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, etc (and even the UK) produce fantastic strawberries!!

Joe Fenech

Aug 13th 2009, 23:33

norbert schembri :

Spot on!!!!

Too late guys! Malta's finished.

Now...our greed mean hard times for Malta in 30/40 years' time when countries are going to have to rely almost entirely on their local produce due to world food shortage. I hope Gonzi reads international papers!! Maybe, some property developer will come and feed us!!!!!! Greed kills you!!!

By the way: do you know the financial situation of M n S? Or did we choose to work with them because that was the only British supermarket we knew???

David Scicluna

Aug 13th 2009, 22:29

Can someone tell me what is 'banbinella' is called in the UK. I asked Marks & Spencers but they didn't have a clue what I was talking about. It will be great to taste it again...it 's one of the friuts I really miss, ( ' naspli' & bajtar tax-xewk the others) having lived in the UK for the last 35 years.

norbert schembri

Aug 13th 2009, 17:37

......so this is news....we exported a few tons of BAMBINELLA and gets prominence!! First we destroyed most of the arable land in Malta and now we want to export fruits and crops. Even if we export all of our produce, this is going to make little difference to our GDP because the production is tiny, limited of course by the amount of land we have. Someone even got carried away and excited that he suggested to close all our farms and turn them into bambinella fields, well my friend, bambinella makes fruits only once a year, but farms produce meat all year round, it is a case of exporting one million euros worth of bambinella and then have to import five million euros worth of meat, it really makes sense does it?? LOL

Charles Zerafa

Aug 13th 2009, 17:34

Uh oh ... "Bambinella will be grown in the UK for the first time ever next year, when suppliers in Kent produce them exclusively for M&S." (www.freshinfo.com)

Do the Ta' Qali Producers Group know this and should they apply for an AOC (Appellation d’origine contrôlée) to protect their product from being grown elsewhere in the world and then sold as the same thing?

I shall check that the sticker says "PRODUCE OF MALTA" when I try to buy some.

Peter Axisa

Aug 13th 2009, 17:21

@David Dandria
Thank you for your words of encouragement. Coming from a person of your calibre and having had "hands on" experience on these matters you know that such endevours are not easy. As for the final part of your message, all I can say is that you seem to have the gift of "reading peoples' minds"!!

Lina Caruana

Aug 13th 2009, 16:42

REALLY GOOD NEWS . !
What a good way to export the goodness of the earth and the sun. Such a clean business .
May this production grow and lots of people will find more work.

David Dandria

Aug 13th 2009, 16:04

@ M. Vella

I just pointed out that Residue Level testing is carried out regularly in Malta, and that the results compare well with other EU States. In 2006 74.5% of Maltese samples tested did not have any residues at all, 23.4% had residues below the maximum acceptable level and only 2.9% had residues above the maximum acceptable level. This compares with 57.7%, 33.8% and 8.5% respectively for Cyprus, 35.8%, 58.2% and 6.1% for Germany . The United Kingdom had no less than 49.1% of samples with detectable residue levels and 3.5% with levels above the maximum acceptable.

I take this opportunity to heartily congratulate the Ta' Qali Producers Group for this successful enterprise. These niche markets are the way to go for Maltese Agriculture. May I suggest they try prickly pears next.

Francis Casha

Aug 13th 2009, 15:20

A wonderful fruit indeed !

C. Caruana

Aug 13th 2009, 15:16

@ S.Abela

google rocks! ... I should be trying this out soon!

P Bellone

Aug 13th 2009, 15:14

@ S Abela
Yeah! I just saw it on Google Too! Strange...

S.Abela

Aug 13th 2009, 15:05

@John Borg

I have had some time to look up some info on google and this is my understanding.

Its a cross breed between an orange and a peach that is grown in a room with a low roof that is lit with orange UV lights. The soil must contain some type vitamin imported from congo. To increase growth milk can also be used instead of water.

Julian Borg

Aug 13th 2009, 14:59

That's the spirit, 'BUY MALTESE'. We have some great products, and we can cut it on the international market now; but what it took, were foreign products coming in to compete directly; and after all the complaining that our protection was lifted, we came out the other side only stronger.

I'm very happy for the farmers involved, and maybe we should take Marks and Spencer's cue and start appreciating our local produce, that's GM free with stringent controls on pesticides.

Congratulations to the people involved.

Charles Zerafa

Aug 13th 2009, 14:55

Why wasn't this reported earlier! I went ten minutes ago and there's none left. :-(

Looking forward to the next consignment. :-)

Joseph Cauchi

Aug 13th 2009, 14:47

This is the way forward for Maltese agriculture. Well Done!

Malta should concentrate on this type of activity and create a niche market in this sector.

Malta should close all pig and cow farms and turn them to arable land so that such niche products could be produce and at the end of the day, this type of business would be more profitable to the farmer than the hassle, the inconvenience and poor returns on the capital invested in pig and cow farms!

When will we ever learn?

JC.

M. Vella

Aug 13th 2009, 14:31

@ David Dandria

So can you please enlighten us why a pesticide was not accepted by the UK Company? This pesticide was being used in Malta already... Common sense tells you in this case that what is unacceptable abroad is not acceptable in Malta!

By the way, congrats for the export, hope it will bring good business.

John Inguanez

Aug 13th 2009, 14:29

Let's be happy about this development for the local farmer. If I remember well Magro Bros were also supplying their products to an chain of supermarkets in the UK.
Yes our products compares very well with others. Once in Austria I saw strawberries from Cyprus, they won't compare with third grade strawberries in Malta.

John Borg

Aug 13th 2009, 13:38

Is bambinella a small pear or a different type of fruit all together?

David Dandria

Aug 13th 2009, 13:34

@ M. Vella

"I hope I am wrong - that is, that there aren't any checks on local produce and pesticides used to grow them."

You are wrong. Results for Malta (2004, 2005, 2006) compare well with all other EU states:

http://www.pesticide-residues.org/food/malta.html

Ivan Abela

Aug 13th 2009, 13:32

Quote..."and they went out of their way to ensure the desired quality"....and what about the quality of the produce that ends on the LOCAL market.....???? Are the same stringent controls in place??

Mark Cashia

Aug 13th 2009, 13:27

EJJA FORSI IL BAMBINELLA TPATTI GHAL FLUS LI TLIFNA MIN HAFNA SETTURI!!!!!!

Karl Abela

Aug 13th 2009, 13:03

This is an excellent idea. We should maximise on the idea to other countries as well if production quantities permit.

N Pulis

Aug 13th 2009, 12:38

Furza Malta!

M Vella

Aug 13th 2009, 12:37

"All locally used pesticides were approved, except for one which is used by very few farmers, and whose use was discontinued."

It had to be a foreigner/foreign company to tell us what pesticide to use. What this implies is that the foreign company involved takes great care to limit the harm from pesticides to its consumers. But here in Malta (like usual) we first "nghaffguha" and then we do something.

I hope I am wrong - that is, that there aren't any checks on local produce and pesticides used to grow them.

G. Caruana

Aug 13th 2009, 12:30

Exactly what we need. Way to go Malta :) *thumbs up*

S.Abela

Aug 13th 2009, 12:26

Grande Bambinella haha.......