This was the D.O. Arroz de Valencia Harvest Festival: a rice-focused day with more than 4,000 visitors

Gastronomy and tradition have once again taken center stage at the Harvest Festival, organized by the D.O. Arroz de Valencia in collaboration with the Ajuntament de Catarroja. The Port de Catarroja hosted showcookings, a Cant de Batre contest, and the traditional rice harvesting demonstration once again this year. Master rice chef Vicente Rioja, from Restaurante Rioja, has received the recognition of 2026 Honorary Reaper.This Sunday, a new edition of the Harvest Festival was held in the Port de Catarroja, gathering more than 4,000 people. Organized by the Denominación de Origen Arroz de Valencia, in collaboration with the Ajuntament de Catarroja, the day placed the cultivation, tradition, and culture of Valencian rice at its heart. During the event, the recognition of 2026 Honorary Reaper was presented to chef and master rice maker Vicente Rioja, from Restaurante Rioja in Benissanó.

The Harvest Festival, which began early in the morning and extended until midday, offered a full programme of activities for all ages. This included boat trips, the famous manual harvesting demonstration, two showcookings, children’s workshops, a Cant de Batre contest, and musical performances, in addition to rice tastings at affordable prices. The event was attended by authorities, including Mª Àngels Ramón-Llin, Director General of Agricultural and Livestock Production; Lorena Silvent, Mayor of Catarroja; and Ricardo Císcar, President of the D.O. Arroz de Valencia.
“We are very happy with the public’s reception, which once again highlights the land, the field workers, and the product,” explained Santos Ruiz, manager of the D.O. Arroz de Valencia.
Rice, up close

The Harvest Festival kicked off early this Sunday with a guided boat tour to learn about the birds of l’Albufera and the Tancat de la Pipa, together with SEO/BirdLife and AE-Agró. This activity, along with subsequent boat trips to enjoy the surroundings, allowed for a deeper discovery of l’Albufera and its relationship with the rice-growing landscape. Gastronomy played a major role during the day with two showcookings to get to know and taste the product more closely. One was led by Vicente Patiño, chef of Saiti, who cooked a creamy rice with mustard, grilled eggplant, and rabbit blanquette. Meanwhile, Rubén Ruiz, cook from the restaurant La Matandeta, prepared a “meloso” rice variety Albufera with free-range chicken, confit lamb, and boletus. These were proposals that the public eagerly wanted to try once the live cooking sessions were finished. These culinary offerings were complemented by one of the highlights of this edition: the Rice Walk (Paseo del Arroz). A tour through some of the most famous recipes in Valencian gastronomy, featuring portions that attendees could taste at affordable prices. At the same time, the youngest members of the family played and learned about rice thanks to free children’s workshops held at the Rice Museum stand.

After 12:30 in the morning, the day gave way to the traditional manual rice harvesting demonstration. An activity that recovers the traditional scene of rice farmers harvesting and threshing. Festival attendees witnessed firsthand the moment when farmers, dressed in old-fashioned attire, entered a field near the Port de Catarroja. There, they harvested, threshed, and winnowed, showing the public the origin of the product that eventually reaches the table.

Vicente Rioja, Honorary Reaper
The demonstration was followed by the appointment of the 2026 Honorary Reaper. This is an award that the D.O. Arroz de Valencia grants year after year to a prominent figure in the world of rice. On this occasion, it was Vicente Rioja, master rice maker and chef of Restaurante Rioja in Benissanó. Last year, he also published *El gran libro (secreto) de la paella* (The Great [Secret] Book of Paella), which combines the history of the recipe with scientific research on its preparation and techniques. Following the presentation of the recognition, which included a personalized *albà* (traditional song), Rioja stated: “I am very moved, and I know how important this tribute is. These traditions cannot end. We must defend the fact that today, in our lands, we have the best rice for making paella.”

The 8th Cant de Batre Contest also drew significant attention. The winner was Nerea Piqueres Noguera, after prevailing in a two-round contest in which Agustí Jiménez, Brigitte Sanchis González, and Francisco Soriano “Poero” participated. Once again, the Harvest Festival paid tribute to this traditional work song that Valencian farmers used to accompany themselves during long harvesting days. The festival concluded with rice tastings at affordable prices and a performance by the dance group La Xicalla de Catarroja, which provided the finishing touch to a festive day that returns rice culture to the place it deserves.

Report by ’24/7 Valencia’ team