Valleggia apricots were already being grown along the coast near Savona at the end of the 19th century, but they reached the peak of their popularity in the 1950s and ’60s. Valleggia is the hamlet in the municipality of Quiliano where the greatest quantities of the apricots were produced. The small fruit is unmistakable, with a thin, delicate orange skin flecked with brick-red dots. Valleggia apricots have a much more intense aroma and flavor than other apricots on the market. The trees are not grown espaliered as in modern orchards, which makes them harder to prune and harvest. This, along with the building boom along the Savona coastline, has led to the gradual abandonment of the variety over the past 30 years.
Season
Harvested from mid-June to mid-July, and available as a preserve year-round.
Production area
The coastal strip from Loano to Varazze, Savona Province
Presidium supported by
Sea and Land of Liguria project – Carige Foundation
Cooperativa Le Riunite
Savona
Tel. +39 019 853 881
traverso@leriunite.it
Shop in Quiliano (Sv) Via Torcello Località Pilalunga , Tel.+39 019 886326
Open every day from 8.30 a.m. to 10.00 p.m., except on Thursday
The cooperative markets apricots grown by: Enrico Bertolotto, Pietro Falco, Silvio Gallo, Marino Rosso, Liliana Venturino
Cooperativa Agricola di Valleggia
Quiliano Valleggia (Sv)
Tel. +39 019880368 - 340 9385666
carlo.traman@libero.it.
Shop in via Fratelli Cervi, 2 a Quiliano (Sv) from Monday to Saturday, from 7.30 a.m. to 1230 a.m.. On Wednesday and Friday also from 2.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
The cooperative markets apricots grown by: Elisa Aragno, Flavio Gagino, Mauro Toso, Carlo Traman.
Processors
Augusto Vincenzo Besio
Via Sant'Ambrogio
Savona
Tel. +39 019860507
info@besio.it
Santamaria Sas
Via Sforza Gallo, 12
Calizzano (SV)
Tel. +39 019 5284270
info@federicosantamaria.it
Giacomo Traverso
Tel.+39 348 2292506
traverso@leriunite.it
Slow Food Presidium Coordinator
Vincenzo Ricotta
Tel.+39 335 381121
studioricotta@gmail.com
