Fruit and Vegetables

In this province the fruit and vegetable sector numbers more than 31,000 acres (75% of the Piemontese patrimony), and an average production of 3.5 million quintals of fruit. Over 1 million quintals of apples are produced, approx. 800,000 quintals of actinidia, even the peaches and nectarines together exceed 1 million quintals, and almost 400,000 quintals of apricots, plums and pears. 110,000 quintals of hazelnuts and over 30,000 quintals of chestnuts, apart from smaller quantities of strawberries and small fruits.

The tableland of Cuneo, to which the valley bottoms lead, has become the ideal habitat for fruit and vegetable cultivation, there being smooth ground without water stagnation, bright with dry air, a big difference between day and night temperatures, all perfect for fruit ripening and colouring. Thus fruit cultivation has developed over the years, becoming dominant in the piedmont region, which goes from the border of the province of Turin as far as Cuneo, with its centre in Saluzzo. This sector is distinguished by the cultivation, quantity and quality of its productions as well as export. Highly professional farmers cultivate on specialised farms, with integrated control techniques, selling not only locally and in Italy , but throughout the world.

Another centre of long tradition for the production of fruit is the Roero area, in particular as regards peaches and strawberries, selling through the market of Canale.

The great tradition of fruit farming is emphasised in the strong presence of well-known varieties appreciated for their quality.

Among the varieties of apples, there is the Mela Rossa (Red Apple), for which the European procedure for IGP “Cuneo” is almost complete, and this includes the varieties Red Delicious, Gala, Fuji and Braeburn which recharge high organoleptic standards in the province; the Mela Gialla (Golden Apple), in particular the Golden Delicious; among the old varieties, which are rediscovering a productive niche dimension, above all the Renetta Grigia di Torriana (Grey Pippin), originally from Barge, a town which is enhancing its production, and then Buras, the various Ravè, Gamba Fina, Contessa and Carla.

The other traditional varieties include the Madernassa pear grown in Roero, from the Grana Valley. This pear is suitable for cooking, just like the other famous variety Martin Sec; the Peaches of Canale; the Apricot Tonda of Costigliole, grown on the hills that run from Saluzzo to Busca, with excellent organoleptic characteristics; the Ramassin, small Damascene plums but very sweet and fragrant, grown especially in the Bronda Valley.

Strawberries and Small Fruits, such as wild strawberries, raspberries, bilberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants, gooseberries, and blackberries, have found their environment in the province, and in particular around the regional capital. Being an altogether particular area hidden in the fresh alpine valleys makes it possible to obtain products of excellent quality as regards both strawberries and small fruits, so much so that IGP “Cuneo” recognition is actually about to arrive.

Alta Langa is the kingdom of the hazelnut, a traditional cultivation, which, with the development currently adopted, has restored a productive dimension and an economic perspective to areas being abandoned thanks to the growing of the autochthonous Tonda Gentile delle Langhe. This is a particularly important variety appreciated by the confectionery industry, and has had IGP Nocciola Piemonte recognition since 1993.

The medium-high mountains, from the Valle Po to the Val Tanaro, are characterised by the production of chestnuts, the basic food of mountain populations of the past, then almost forgotten, but now this delicious fruit has made its comeback. The Castagna Cuneo, which includes the variety of chestnuts and sweet chestnuts grown in the province, has more or less reached the European procedure for IGP acknowledgement.

Approximately 700,000 quintals of a vast variety of vegetables are produced in this province on over 6,000 acres . Even among these vegetables, some products have found their optimal dimension in our province.

The Fagiolo di Cuneo has also found a privileged area of distribution surrounding the regional capital, thanks to the relatively cool temperatures in summer, and is known as a fresh product dried or to be shelled. Creeper crops mark the areas in summer with the characteristic reed huts. Procedures for IGP recognition are currently under way. On the other hand, the hilly areas of the Alta Langa produce the Fagiolo Bianco di Spagna (White Spanish Bean) with very big, completely white grain, whereas in Val Tanaro the Fagiolo Bianco di Bagnasco is grown.

Among the other vegetables, worth mentioning is the top-quality Peperone di Cuneo (Peppers), best eaten with “Bagna Cauda”; Porro di Cervere (Leek), medium-sized, no sharp taste, and a high percentage of whitened fibres; the Carota di S.Rocco Castagnaretta, not very long but with good colouring; the Patata (Potato), grown in the mountain valleys or in Alta Langa, reaching high organoleptic characteristics; the Pomodoro Piatta di Bernezzo (Flat Tomato) and the Rapa di Caprauna (Turnip).

Actinidia of Cuneo

Actinidia Name Actinidia of Cuneo Seal of quality Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale (PAT) / Typical food-farming product. Description The characteristic of this long-shaped fruit is its very hairy brownish skin. The colour of the inner part is a beautiful bright green ...
Leggi Tutto
Albicocca Tonda di Costigliole

Round Apricot of Costigliole

Round Apricot of Costigliole Name Round Apricot of Costigliole Seal of quality Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale (PAT) – Typical Food Farming Product. The procedure has begun for PAT recognition. Description The fruit of the Tonda di Costigliole variety is round and ...
Leggi Tutto
Carota San Rocco Castagnaretta

Carota San Rocco Castagnaretta

Carota San Rocco Castagnaretta Name Carota San Rocco Castagnaretta Seal of quality Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale (PAT) / Typical Food Farming Product. Description The carrot of San Rocco Castagnaretta presents a linear, almost cylindrical taproot, with a short greenish-purplish blue crown, ...
Leggi Tutto
Castagna

Chestnut

Chestnut Name Chestnut Seal of quality Protected geographic Indication- PGI. (IGP) Regolamento (CE) N. 1050/2007 del 12 settembre 2007 Currently in the phase of “provisional protection” at a national level and awaiting community recognition). Description The protected geographic indication “Castagna ...
Leggi Tutto
Cece di Nucetto

The Nucetto Chickpea

The Nucetto Chickpea Name The Nucetto Chickpea Description The chickpea (Latyrus sativus) is a pulse originating from the East, which in the past was widely cultivated in the area of the Tanaro valley, as it provided a food of great ...
Leggi Tutto
Fagiolo di Cuneo

Cuneo Bean

Cuneo Bean Name Cuneo Bean Seal of quality Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale (PAT) – Typical Food Farming Product. IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) status requested. Description The bean varieties cultivated in this area are the climbing varieties belonging to the Phaseolus vulgaris ...
Leggi Tutto
Fragola Cuneo

Cuneo Strawberry

Cuneo Strawberry Name Cuneo Strawberry Seal of quality Typical food-farming productDescription “Fragola Cuneo” is intended solely for the fruits of the cultivars of Alba, Arosa, Asia, Clery, Record, Sugar Lia, Roxana, Albion, Charlotte, Diamante, Elsinore, Evie 2, Irma, and for ...
Leggi Tutto

Valle Bronda Apple

Valle Bronda Apple Name Valle Bronda Apple Seal of Quality Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale (PAT) – Typical Food Farming Product. Description These superb apples with their unmistakable aspect and high gustatory qualities, grow on land particularly suitable for apple growing, putting ...
Leggi Tutto
Mela Renetta Grigia di Torriana

Grey Pippin Apple of Torriana

Grey Pippin Apple of Torriana Name Grey Pippin Apple of Torriana Seal of quality Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale (PAT) / Typical food-farming product. Description The Renetta Grigia di Torriana takes its name from the characteristic of its peel, completely rusty brown, ...
Leggi Tutto

Red Apple

Red Apple Name Red Apple Seal of quality Typical food-farming product Description The apple “Mela Rossa Cuneo”, is characterised by overcolouring of the peel and particular bright and shiny shades of colour. Here is a list of apple varieties and ...
Leggi Tutto
Mele - Antiche varietà locali

Apples – Old Local Varieties

Gambafina Seal of quality Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale (PAT) / Typical food-farming product. Description The category includes some old apple varieties once grown abundantly, especially in the Cuneese and then almost completely abandoned after the war in favour of new cultivars ...
Leggi Tutto
Nocciola Cuneo IGP

Hazelnut

Hazelnut Name Hazelnut Seal of quality Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) – D.M. 02/12/1993. Description The name Nocciola del Piemonte or Nocciola Piemonte denotes the fruit of the Tonda Gentile hazelnut of the Langa area, cultivated in the region individuated in ...
Leggi Tutto

Bisalta Potato

Bisalta Potato Name Bisalta Potato Seal of quality Seal of private and/or trades nature Description Potato planting, although widespread in every environment, finds its ideal habitat in mountainous areas. In fact, here the loose soils and cool climate, on average ...
Leggi Tutto

Valle Belbo Potato

Valle Belbo Potato Name Valle Belbo Potato Seal of quality Valle Belbo Potato: Typical food-farming product Description This is the case of the Valle Belbo potato, the tubers of which are characterised by the size, medium-small, and by its particular ...
Leggi Tutto
Patata di Entracque

Entraque Potato

Entraque Potato Name Entraque Potato Seal of quality Seal of private and/or trades nature Description Potato planting, although widespread in any environment, finds its ideal habitat in mountainous areas. In fact, here the loose soils and cool climate on average ...
Leggi Tutto
Peperone Cuneo

Cuneo Pepper

Cuneo Pepper Name Cuneo Pepper Seal of quality Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale (PAT) / Typical food-farming product. Description The Cuneo pepper responds to the morphological characteristics referable to the Capsicum annum var. Grossum Sent variety, better known as “quadrato di Cuneo” ...
Leggi Tutto
Pera Madernassa

Madernassa Pear

Madernassa Pear Name Madernassa Pear Seal of quality Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale (PAT) – Typical Food Farming Product. Procedures for IGP (Indication of protected origin) status are in course. Description This is a vigorous, rustic and extremely fertile tree, subject to ...
Leggi Tutto
Pesche del Cuneese

Peach of Cuneo

Peach of Cuneo Name Peach of Cuneo Seal of quality Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale (PAT) / Typical food-farming product. Description There is a wide range of peach varieties produced in the province of Cuneo , predominantly a smooth skin variety (nectarines) ...
Leggi Tutto
Piccoli frutti

Small Fruits

Small Fruits Name Small Fruits Seal of quality Typical food-farming product Description “Piccoli Frutti Cuneo” designates solely fruits pertaining to the following species and in possession of the requirements established by the set of disciplinary regulations. Raspberry ( Rubus idaeus ...
Leggi Tutto
Porro di Cervere

Cervere Leek

Cervere Leek Name Cervere Leek Seal of quality Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale (PAT) / Typical food-farming product. Description On the outside, this leek has a long, thin stalk, half of which is white, and is usually sold in typical bunches of ...
Leggi Tutto
Ramassin del Saluzzese

Ramassin of Saluzzo

Ramassin of Saluzzo Name Ramassin of Saluzzo Seal of quality Prodotto Agroalimentare Tradizionale (PAT) – Typical Food Farming Product. Description The Ramassin del Saluzzese is a part of the group of the so-called “Siriache”, originally from Syria. When ripe, this ...
Leggi Tutto
Rapa di Caprauna

Caprauna Turnip

Caprauna Turnip Name Caprauna Turnip Seal of quality Slow Food aid Description The Caprauna turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa) has a large flat- rounded  root of a yellowish-white colour, and a sweet taste, the sweetness increasing with the intensity of ...
Leggi Tutto