As already happened in 2012, the Aureli Mario company is the first producer who certified for the 2013 campaign of PGI carrots from the Fucino plateau.
As of 15th July 2013 the product will be available in some supermarkets in Northern Italy in 800 gr trays. Aureli Mario reports that, since they obtained the first certification, the demand for PGI carrots has increased.
The PGI mark for carrots from the Fucino plateau is reserved to those carrots grown on the Fucino plateau and indicates those cultivars of the "Daucus carota L." species deriving from the following varieties: Maestro (Vilmorin), Presto (Vilmorin), Concerto (Vilmorin), Napoli (Bejo), Nandor (Clause) and Dordogne (SG).
The produce must have certain characteristics as described in the specification such as cylinder shape with rounded tip, lack of root hairs, deep orange colour (also on the crown) and precise saccharose (>3%), beta carotene (>60 mg/Kg), ascorbic acid (>5 mg/Kg), protein (>0.5%) and fibre (>1.2%) contents. In addition, the flesh must also be crunchy.
In the Fucino area, people started cultivating carrots in open fields in 1950.
In order to guarantee the shelf-life, the quality and the organoleptic characteristics of carrots, during Summer (July and August) harvesting is carried out either early in the morning or late in the afternoon to prevent sun exposure.
Once harvested, carrots are taken to cooling centres within four hours. They are washed, packed and cooled so they remain crunchy, tasty and with a bright colour.
The produce should be available until the end of the year.
Contacts:
Az. Agr. AURELI MARIO
Strada 26 del Fucino, snc
67050 Ortucchio (AQ)
Tel.: (+39) 0863 830373
Fax: (+39) 0863 830380
Email: info@aurelimario.com
Web: www.aurelimario.com