Badalucco, Conio, and Pigna Beans

The ancestors of these beans reached Liguria in the 17th century from Spain, and found ideal conditions in the Nervia, Oneglia and Argentina valleys, where they were grown on dry-stone terraces. Natural selection produced three different varieties, cultivated around three small towns: Badalucco, Conio, and Pigna. Conio beans are large and kidney-shaped, while the other two are oval and slightly smaller, especially the Pigna variety. The best-suited land is the highest, where the soil is loose and well drained and the calcareous and mineral-rich water comes from springs.

Season

The pods are harvested from mid-September until mid-October and dried beans are available year-round.