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Vicente Todolí is not just an art expert. He is also saving rare citrus fruits. He started a special garden in Spain. This garden is called the Todolí Citrus Fundació. It is in the town of Palmera, near the sea.
In this garden, you can see many strange and beautiful fruits. Some look like small octopuses. Others are big and green like a baby. One fruit is yellow and green like a painting. Vicente grows all these fruits to protect them.
One morning, Vicente shows the fruits. He picks one that looks normal. But he says, “Be careful, this one can burn your skin!” Some fruits have strong oil. They are not dangerous, but they can hurt your lips or tongue. Still, Vicente asks, “Do you want to taste?” The fruit is juicy and sour. The juice pops in your mouth like small bubbles.
The Man and His Mission
Vicente Todolí was born on this citrus farm. He grew up here and loved the land. Later, he studied art and became the director of big art museums in London and Milan. But he never forgot the farm.
In 2010, people wanted to build houses on the land near his farm. Vicente said no. He wanted to protect the citrus trees. He began to buy more land to save it. Some of the land had weeds, and some had old trees. He worked hard. Now he has 4.5 hectares of land.
At the same time, Vicente worked with famous chefs. One day, he visited a special garden in France. This garden had more than 400 kinds of citrus trees. Vicente was surprised. He asked, “How can this be? Why doesn’t anyone do this in my home area?” The chef said, “Why don’t you do it?”
This was the moment Vicente decided to make his own big citrus collection.
Building the Biggest Citrus Collection
Vicente started to collect citrus trees. He wanted to save rare and special types from around the world. He brought trees from Asia, the USA, and other parts of Europe.
Now, his garden has over 400 types of citrus trees. Some are sweet. Some are bitter. Some are very old kinds that people almost forgot.
Vicente does not use any chemicals on the trees. He wants them to grow naturally. He says, “If a tree is not strong, I don’t want to help it with chemicals. I want real, healthy trees.”
He also saves the seeds. He works with scientists to learn more about the trees. He gives fruit to chefs and students. He wants people to see, touch, and taste these special fruits.
Vicente does not sell his fruits in stores. He is not doing this to make money. He is doing it to protect nature and share knowledge.
Fruits for the Future
Vicente believes citrus fruits are more than just food. He says they are part of culture, history, and nature. Each fruit has a story. It tells us where it comes from and how people used it.
He teaches students and chefs about the fruits. He says, “If you touch the tree, if you smell the leaves, you will remember it more than just reading about it.”
Some of the fruits are very rare. If we don’t grow them, they may disappear forever.
That’s why Vicente thinks his garden is like a museum — but with trees and fruit instead of paintings.
His dream is to protect these fruits so people in the future can also see them, smell them, and taste them.
Vicente Todolí is not just saving fruit — he is saving stories, smells, and tastes. His citrus garden is full of life, color, and history.
He does not do it for money. He does it to protect rare fruits and share them with the world.
Thanks to Vicente, many special citrus fruits are safe. Now, students, chefs, and visitors can learn from them — and enjoy them.
His work helps nature and people. And one day, these fruits may inspire someone new to grow, protect, and love them too.
Source: bbc.com
Vocabulary for the Article
Fruit – A sweet food from a plant or tree.
Example: I eat fruit every day.
Special – Not normal or usual.
Example: This fruit is very special.
Tree – A tall plant with leaves and branches.
Example: The fruit grows on a tree.
Garden – A place where plants or trees grow.
Example: I have flowers in my garden.
Farmer – A person who grows food or animals.
Example: The farmer works in the garden.
Pick – To take fruit or flowers from a plant.
Example: She picks apples from the tree.
Taste – The flavor of food.
Example: This orange has a sweet taste.
Lemon – A yellow citrus fruit.
Example: I put lemon in my tea.
Rare – Not common or easy to find.
Example: This fruit is very rare.
Citrus – A type of fruit like lemon or orange.
Example: Citrus fruits are good for health.
Sweet – Tasting like sugar or honey.
Example: I like sweet fruits.
Sour – Having a sharp or acid taste.
Example: Lemons are sour.
Spain – A country in Europe.
Example: The fruit garden is in Spain.
Save – To keep something for the future.
Example: He wants to save the special fruit.
Nature – Everything from the earth like trees and animals.
Example: I love walking in nature.
Sun – The bright light in the sky.
Example: The fruit needs sun to grow.
Plant – A living thing that grows in the ground.
Example: We water the plant every day.
Farm – A place where food is grown.
Example: He works on a fruit farm.
Juice – Liquid from fruit.
Example: I drink orange juice.
Greenhouse – A glass building for growing plants.
Example: The fruit grows in a greenhouse.