The Montelupone artichoke, also known as "scarciofeno" grows in the province of Macerata, in the hills between the valleys of the Chienti and Potenza rivers. Deep purple in color, it is smaller than the average artichoke and has no inner choke or outer spines. The late-ripening variety is characteristic of the municipality of Montelupone, and comes in two eco-types. One has more serrated leaves, is harvested earlier (from the end of March) and is more productive, while the other has less serrated leaves, a smaller plant, a later harvesting time and is less productive.
When the plant is young, it can produce as many as ten heads (the artichoke’s inflorescences) but after a few years this goes down to just four. Because of this quick drop in production and a lower-than-average yield (5.5 tons per hectare, unlike, for example, the Romanesco which can produce as much as 10 tons), the Montelupone artichoke is only known locally and is distributed in a limited area, despite its very high quality.
Due to its flavorfulness and sweetness, it features in many typical dishes, like tagliatelle with artichokes, fried artichokes and artichokes alla giudìa. Historically, the first heads, the largest, are cooked in a frying pan with breadcrumbs, parsley, oil, salt and white wine, while the smaller heads are blanched and packed in oil.
Season
The staggered harvest takes place in April and May
Back to the archive >The Presidium producers are joined together in the "Produttori del Carciofo di Montelupone” association, whose regulation prohibits he use of synthetic chemical fertilizers and weedkillers, hormones and other growth stimulants.
Before growing the next crop of artichokes, it is necessary to restore the soil’s fertility by growing nitrogen-fixing plants for at least two years.
Production area
Hills at around 252 meters above sea level in the Montelupone municipality
Presidium supported by
Municipality of Montelupone, Banca di Credito Cooperativo di Recanati e Colmurano
Celestino Antonelli
Via Fontevecchia, 3
Montelupone (Mc)
Tel. +39 347 4219350
Antonino Bedini
Via Regina Margherita, 6-8-10
Montelupone (Mc)
Tel. +39 348 8718218-333 3280594
Giovanna Cartechini
Contrada Canneggiano, 7 B
Montelupone (Mc)
Tel. +39 392 0661088
d.severini@libero.it
Ciprian
iVia Fosso, 1
Montelupone (Mc)
Tel. +39 348 6541107
marisa.cipriani@icloud.com
www.aziendaagricolacipriani.it
Silvano Foglia
Contrada Montemariano, 7
Montelupone (Mc)
Tel.+39 328 3178021
ricki7792@gmail.com
Stefano Giustozzi
Contrada Acquare, 4
Montelupone (Mc)
Tel.+39 340 6917277
ste-8.8@homail.it
Green Project
di Manuel Mandolesi
Via Manzoni, 12
Montelupone (Mc)
Tel. +39 388 9456950
manuel.mandolesi@gmail.com
Ignazio Mandolesi
Piani di Potenza, 20 A
Montelupone (Mc)
Tel. +39 328 0993249
ignaziomandolesi@alice.it
Sergio Romitelli
Contrada Campodonico, 5
Montelupone (Mc)
Tel. +39 345 7101514
mirco.romitelli@libero.it
Maria Scialpini
Contrada Montearsiccio, 1
Montelupone (Mc)
Tel. +39 329 3044255
info@suolificioag.it
Il Seguito
di Marco Malgrande
Contrada San Matteo, 3
Montelupone (Mc)
Tel.+39 339 6027307
info@ilseguito.it
www.ilseguito.it
Valeriano Stortini
Via Forte Ianni, 6 A
Montelupone (Mc)
Tel. +39 340 2492855
valerixxxl@gmail.com
Serena Girotti
Montelupone (Mc)
Via Canneggiano, 8
Tel.+39 0733 226376 - 320 0424260
massi.giro@libero.it
Leonardo Marotta
Tel. +39 338 3518558
leonardo.marotta.entropia@gmail.com
Producers’ coordinator
Marisa Cipriani
Tel. +39 348 6541107
marisa.cipriani@icloud.com