Why Bulgaria Lives Organically

Forget movie stars: live in Los Angeles is rich because of the excellent ethnic groceries stores scattered about the city. The Middle Eastern supermarkets are the best--whether they are the Persian shops on the West Side or the Armenian grocers in Glendale. And if you bought pickled vegetables, there’s a good chance they are from Bulgaria.

Bulgaria should not be a secret, but geography does too good of a job hiding this country of 7 million. Wedged between the Black Sea, Greece, the former Yugoslavian nations, and Romania, the country was not never far from the rest of Europe, but it may have been a world away. Like all former Eastern Bloc states, Bulgaria has had its struggles, but plenty of optimism pervades the country. The foundation for the country‘s future is in its land.<

Factory farming has not taken hold yet in Bulgaria. Any farms collectivized during the Communist era has been returned to families. The results are wonderful: fragrant peppers, cool cucumbers, luscious tomatoes (what we call heirloom are standard here), and great root vegetables. Winter fruit like apples and pears are winners, too. Then you have other products, like rose oil, the best of which is found here. Technically only 0.3% of the land is devoted to “organic” agriculture, or as in “certified” . . . as far as quality goes, just about anything here makes what we consume in Western Europe or North America taste like a rock.

Whether you are perusing through the gruff “Ladies Market” or at one of the many street side vendors, the bounty of Bulgaria is impressive. Now if only more of its products can move west, which would help the farmers gain the income and opportunity they and their children deserve.