As the transport allowed mobility, the Margalef family became transhumant beekeepers.
Rossend is son of El Perelló, where his grandparents already worked the land and the bees. For centuries, honey had been another element of subsistence and autonomy for rural people. With some chicken, rabbits, pigs, sheep, a vegetable patch and a few bee hives, they could provide for their families. Honey was a part of a decadent economy in a land where nobody gave anything. Luckily, the singularity of the area could offer more than one harvest, taking advantage of the orange trees in Amposta, Alcanar and north Castelló, which gave advantage to the beekeepers in El Perelló and the region, which bit by bit became a naturally beekeeper zone.
As the transport allowed a better mobility, the Margalef family became transhumant beekeepers. Rossend’s ancestors had little chance to choose what they wanted to do when they grew up. Life offered fewer choices and becoming a beekeeper was one of the best jobs back then. But Rossend, with many more options, still chose beekeeping on his own will, and not because it was simple or easy. He has been through times when it would have been easier to become a builder rather than insisting on being a beekeeper. Honey, as many other products that depend 100% on nature, has unpredictable harvests, and dry or cold weathers can cause variations and honey loss, but determination, the priviledge of working surrounded by nature and the desire for self-improvement beat the difficulties.
That’s how, a few years ago, he decided to produce and select high quality honey, pollen, honeycomb, etc., and with that process he got to export to Europe and Japan, which makes him proud, since it’s a small and familiar company. I’m sure Rossend will explain you with all detail the characteristics of his products if you go to his store.
He has over 3,000 bee hives on a transhumant basis around the close regions, taking advantage of all the flowering periods, which bring us many types of honey with different colors and flavors. Rossend also likes to have strange honey types, such as arbutus (a bitter and very different variety), apple blossom, orange, rosemary, chestnut… but also forest, brought by some beekeepers in Galicia, lemon from Murcia, eucalyptus… Rossend seemed to love honey and everything related to it.
His store is full of jars of different shapes and sizes with all of these honey types I’m explaining. He also sells beekeeping materials and swarms. On the day I spent in El Perelló, it was hot as hell and I decided to get closer to the sea. I didn’t know the beaches around there and they surprised me. How beautiful and pleasant they were! Rocks and pines by the water… I’m commenting this so that you want to go visit Rossend Margalef’s store. I’m sure you’ll love all of it! Honey and sea!
– Written by “Artesans” magazine.