Town near Seville honours Spanish stars Fabián Ruiz and Gavi with combined 153.5kg of its flagship product
Just when they thought lifting the World Cup was a professional pinnacle never to be surpassed, Spanish footballers Fabián Ruiz Peña and Pablo Martín Páez Gavira – known more commonly as Gavi – have both been presented with their own bodyweight in tomatoes.
Following last Sunday’s triumph in the final against Argentina, Ruiz and Gavi headed to their home town of Los Palacios y Villafranca, near Seville in Andalusia, where they were welcomed as guests of honour for a special event in the town’s Plaza de Andalucía square.
In the presence of another local football star and World Cup winner Jesús Navas, who himself received a similar gift of top-grade tomatoes back in 2010, the returning heroes were welcomed by members of the Los Palacios Tomato Producers Association, including representatives from Las Nieves and Parque Norte cooperatives, as well as grower-exporter Frupal.
They presented Ruiz with 85kg of Bombón Colorao tomatoes, which are grown in the surrounding area. Gavi was rewarded with 68.5kg of the same.
Bombón Colorao is the name given to highly prized, premium tomatoes grown around Los Palacios y Villafranca, and since 2012 it has held special status in Spain as part of the country’s Marca Colectiva Nacional scheme.
Valued for their rich flavour, aroma and fleshy texture, they are regarded as the flagship product of the area’s horticultural sector.
The name is also used as a collective designation to promote and protect locally produced tomatoes, rather than referring to one specific variety.
Frupal is among a number of growers and marketing organisations represented by the local producer association.
