The fifth edition of the Labyrinth of Horta de Lleida is already ready in the corn fields of Granja Pifarré. With the title "Som de Ponent", the activity will offer this year a tour with 17 tests that aim to promote local producers, as well as the traditions of the rural world and curiosities about the vegetables and fruits of the territory.
"We want to show producers from La Horta and also from towns like Alguaire, Albesa or Massalcoreig", the organizer Joan Pifarré explained this Friday. The labyrinth will open to the public from August 19 and will take place on weekends until the end of October. In parallel, gastronomic and cultural activities such as a 'Speaker Fest' will be held on September 16.
This year, and due to the drought, Granja Pifarré has only planted maize in the two fields of the Laberinto de l'Horta, in the rest of the farms it has planted sorghum, a fodder that does not need as much water. The maize they grow is a species that withstands water stress well, and although the ears are not as large or abundant, it will allow the activity to be carried out, which is consolidated in the summer calendar in Lleida.
Thus, the labyrinth will formally open its doors on August 19. This Friday it has already received the first visitors belonging to the political, agricultural, neighborhood and cultural world of Lleida, especially from Horta.
This year, the labyrinth offers two fields of crops with 17 tests designed to introduce all these producers and also various peasant traditions, as well as curiosities about the vegetables or fruit grown in Lleida. "People who participate will be able to learn traditions from the rural world, that's why we call it agrocultural tests," said Pifarré. The tour can be completed with groups, with an estimated duration of half an hour, and upon completion there will also be a terrace-bar service with local products from the area as well as a rural playground with a circuit of tractors.
In parallel, the Pifarré Farm will hold gastronomic and cultural days, one of which will be the 'Ponent Fest', which will take place on September 16 and will pair tastings of local products with musical performances.
Likewise, on October 22 a solidarity walk with the Down Lleida Association is planned and on October 28 the labyrinth will close with a night session called 'Ouija al Laberint', which will be run by the Hangar de Magraners association.
The labyrinth will be open on Saturday afternoons and eves as well as Sunday mornings during the weekends of August, September and October. For the Diada de Catalunya, on September 11, there will be a special daytime session.
The event was presented by the accidental mayoress of Lleida, Begoña Iglesias, and the City Councilor for Culture and Promotion, Pilar Bosch, who have strengthened the commitment of the Lleida City Council to "put the Horta on the map, since it is a differential feature of the city", and they have also shown their predisposition to work on other private proposals that are made in the area, not only to promote local producers but also to develop different activities or events.
The facilities have also been visited by the coordinator of the Horta de la Paeria, Joan Queralt, the manager of Plusfresc, Rafael Oncins, the vice president of the Provincial Council, Agustí Jiménez, as well as Nacho Company representative of Inno4agro, Francesc Rosselló, representative of the Association of Producers of l'Horta, Dolors Comes and Francesc Montardit, representatives of the Comisión de la Horta, accompanied by Jos Farreny and Toni Baró, as responsible for the FAV.
