Thousands of residents gather bitter oranges in Barcelona’s streets

Barcelona is turning the harvesting of bitter oranges into a charitable event. Eight districts are taking part this February. Registration is already open. The resulting marmalade helps those most in need.

For one week in February, Barcelona’s streets fill with local residents armed with bags and gloves, ready to collect the bitter oranges that every year fall from the more than 3,300 orange trees spread across the city. This tradition, now in its sixth edition, turns what was once simple waste into a driver of solidarity and neighbourhood participation.

The Barcelona Espigola initiative, which this year adds Sarrià-Sant Gervasi to the usual districts, invites anyone to register and join the urban harvest. The aim is clear: to prevent tonnes of fruit from ending up in the bin and give it a second life as charitable marmalade. The process is simple but meticulous. After collection, the oranges undergo a health inspection before reaching the social workshop where they are turned into ‘La Marga’, a natural marmalade distributed among organisations that support people in vulnerable situations.

The appeal of the proposal goes beyond environmental action. Those who take part receive a jar of marmalade from the previous edition as a small acknowledgement of their involvement. Last year, more than 5,300 kilos of oranges became around 13,000 units of marmalade, distributed among those most in need. Registration is free and is made through the municipal website or the Fundación Espigoladors.

Barcelona’s environmental regulations allow this collection as long as the environment is respected and it is carried out sustainably. Coordination between Parques y Jardines, the districts and the Fundación Espigoladors ensures that the activity takes place safely and in an organised manner. Sant Andreu, with the largest number of orange trees in the city, remains the epicentre of this unusual urban harvest.

Barcelona Espigola has become established as an annual event that brings together residents of all ages and neighbourhoods. Beyond the marmalade, the experience reinforces the sense of community and the commitment to a more sustainable and supportive city.

The Fundación Espigoladors, the driving force behind this initiative, has worked for years to reduce food waste in Barcelona. Its model is based on recovering fruit and vegetables that do not reach the market, turning them into quality products and creating job opportunities for people at risk of exclusion. Thanks to projects such as Barcelona Espigola, the city is moving towards more responsible management of its resources and greater social cohesion.