António Jacinto Ferreira first came to Olhão in 1918 as a young teenager, initially supplying fresh and salted fish to Alentejo before specialising in the production of pates and fish preserves. It would have been a tough business to break into since at its peak in 1925 there were around 400 canneries in Portugal. His first brand of tinned fish – Jupiter – was created in 1947 and is still sold in Portugal.
It is though what António created in 1950 I want to tell you about. He used a photograph of his youngest son, Jorge Ferreira, to create ‘Good Boy’ for the international market. And what I love most of all is that Jorge’s 7 year old face is still on the tin!
In 1954 António Jacinto Ferreira bought out ‘La Conserveira do Sul‘ and it became his master company. He retired in the 1970s, but his company remained a family business. Today, nearly seventy years after he took over the company, his grandchildren are running it. Quite an achievement given there are only now around 20 canneries left in the whole of Portugal. They still use traditional methods for much of the production, including for their limited editions the hand wrapping of the tins. The pate from their main brand, Manná, is one you regularly see in restaurants. Canned fish is part of Portuguese life, it also accounts for one third of their seafood exports.
If you want to learn more about the La Conserveira do Sul, the manufacturing process or even taste the products themselves then book a tour in their showroom on Avenida 5 de Outubro in Olhão. Or if like me you are not sure when you are next going to be in the Algarve, watch the video below.
Forgot to mention,the nest on the wonkey chimney has survived,and the pair have seen off intruders!
They are celebrating their victory with much beak clacking !
That’s fabulous news!
I’d like to like sardines etc but I can’t bring myself to try them, I’m such a wuss 🙁
Do you like other fish? If so then you would probably enjoy them – no bones in the tinned ones!
Such colourful tins.. 😉
Delicious inside too!
A great story Becky. I love the tins 🙂
The contents are fabulous too!
I am impressed you can afford a tin going by comments 😀
hee hee . . .must admit we usually buy the ones that don’t look so impressive on the outside!
But tasty on the inside
always! The main thing to look out for is what oil they are in, olive oil ones are always tastier.
Oh. I thought the fish would either be in olive oil or brine
Most these days are in vegetable oil, and it really changes the taste. Read carefully before purchasing!
No way. I thought Portugal grew olives. Are there olive oil processing plants still around?
There are indeed, and Portuguese olive oil is fabulous . . .however vegetable oil is cheaper and for most consumers these days that’s what is important.
That is so wrong. Taste of cost. I know which way I go every time
Likewise!
😄😄
I know people who help sell the product but I’ve never sampled! 🙁 🙁 In Olhao tonight, at Re-Creativa, to watch Cool Manouche. Next time! 🙂
Not even the pates as an appetiser?!
Hope you enjoyed last night xx
I don’t know if we’ve had those specific ones. Fabulous evening with Cool Manouche 🤗💕
Fabulous!
PS next time you are in a restaurant check them!!!
Bravo Becky.
When it stops raining,shall try to book a tour and hopefully have a tasting!
Do let me know how you get on. I only realised they did tours after i did the research!
Last year in Portugal I was almost foolish enough to buy one of those novelty cans with dates on them. I came to my senses just in the nick of time!
Hee hee, I know they’re so tempting until of course you look at the price! They are not even in olive oil.