Camagroga

La Huerta de Valencia (fruit and vegetable plantations in Valencia) is a privileged place for Mediterranean agriculture. The development of its agricultural system on a large scale started in the Al-Andalus period (11th and 12th centuries), when scattered populations in the area started to get organized and exploite the water resources of the river Turia, using a complex network of irrigation ditches. This cultural landscape with centuries of history has survived to this day, but in the past few decades it has suffered a process of deterioration, in which the large and fertile plains of Valencia have disappeared; a process that continues to advance. “La Huerta is dying”, claim the farmers. One of the few remaining farmers is Antonio Ramón, Camagroga. He was born here, he grew up here, he has always lived here, and is still here, passing on his knowledge to his daughter, Inma, who will be in charge of keeping the land farmed when he is no longer here. The main production of the Camagrogas is the tiger nut, which they grow with patience, love, and knowledge. They only sell it to a few exclusive clients. They deliver, so to speak, “signature tiger nuts”. That’s the only way they can fight the costs, as well as large department stores. That is the only way they avoid being devoured by the dynamics of capitalism and globalization, of which Antonio is very aware. Camagroga shows us a full soil cycle in La Huerta Valenciana, as well as the work of Antonio and Inma throughout a whole year. The movie wants to be an elegy to work, land, heritage, and resistence. NM Premiere Awards 2020: World premiere at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2020: Informative Section at the 35th Mostra de València – Cinema del Mediterrani