Its ridiculous concave border--not to mention the token Bosnian coastline at Neum that separates Dubrovnik from the rest of the country--in some ways is a benefit for this nation of 4 million people. Croatia’s long coastline on the Adriatic Sea offers countless possibilities. Tourism is the obvious one, as Dubrovnik’s trade might long ago declined after centuries as Venice’s greatest rival. As is true throughout the
Balkans, however, the, Mediterranean climate here offers economic opportunity for niche food products. Olives and citrus first come to mind, but farms lying parallel to the coast offer other fruits and vegetables as well.
Once you leave the stellar and yes, cruise-ship voyeuristic old town in Dubrovnik, walking through the city’s neighborhoods on the hillsides is a treat for the curious visitor--providing you do not get caught foraging at the peak harvest season. Fall is fading into winter here, but never mind: organic herbs were still growing wild, citrus of several varieties were weighing down tree branches, and grapevines, albeit shriveled into fall colors, were still gracing arbors and fences.
Citrus grows so well here it falls on the ground--for me it brought back memories of growing up in California, where you cannot eat and juice the oranges fast enough. One variety of orange was quite astringent, the other tangerine-like globes extremely sweet. Then there were the grapes, which I assume were for winemaking--but that made them even more tempting. I grabbed clusters of them, and they reminded me of the sweet grapes in Korea and Japan. I was smitten. My hands were happily stained, and I have to say all that fruit was one of the more satisfying snacks I have enjoyed in my travels.
There are two regions where people should not starve: the tropics and the Mediterranean. And in the Mediterranean, there’s no reason why farmers cannot thrive, even in the small Balkan countries. The quality and uniqueness, not to mention the flavor of the foods here, are a reason why this area stands out.
