Until 60 years ago, the plain surrounding Palermo was one big garden. Citrus groves reached up to the spurs of the mountains that hemmed the Conca d’Oro, the golden basin, and the fertile soil was retained by dry-stone walls. These days, the cultivated land has been reduced by 80% and the fertile soil cemented over, and the building continues, with great risks of hydrogeological instability. In the 1940s, in Ciaculli, a spontaneous mutation of the Avana mandarin produced this late season variety. With very few seeds, incredibly sweet, juicy pulp and thin skin, it spread rapidly among the local growers.
Season
Harvested from January to March and processed it is available year-round
Thanks to the consortium Il Tardivo di Ciaculli, the Presidium unites small-scale growers who own a total of around 80 hectares of land. Only small plots remain and the potential proceeds from selling the land are higher than the income from selling the citrus. The growers have become discouraged, and if current trends continue, in ten years the remaining citrus groves will have been completely abandoned. The Presidium has been started to try to reverse this.
Production area
Rural areas around Palermo
Presidium supported by
Sicilian Region
Production area
Rural areas around Palermo
Presidium supported by
Sicilian Region
Producers
Consorzio Il Tardivo di Ciaculli
Via Enrico Ferruzza, 16-18
Palermo
Tel. +39 339 2614123
dagati@tardivodiciaculli.it
www.tardivodiciaculli.it
(rif. Giovanni D’Agati)
Consorzio Il Tardivo di Ciaculli
Via Enrico Ferruzza, 16-18
Palermo
Tel. +39 339 2614123
dagati@tardivodiciaculli.it
www.tardivodiciaculli.it
(rif. Giovanni D’Agati)
Slow Food Presidium Producers’ Coordinator
Giovanni D’Agati
Tel. +39 339 2614123
dagati@tardivodiciaculli.it
Slow Food Presidium Coordinator
Francesco Pensovecchio
Tel. 338 6337475
info@slowfoodpalermo.it
Giovanni D’Agati
Tel. +39 339 2614123
dagati@tardivodiciaculli.it
Slow Food Presidium Coordinator
Francesco Pensovecchio
Tel. 338 6337475
info@slowfoodpalermo.it