At the MIN of Rungis, Gérard Lliso, president of Select Agrumes, offers his clients a special kind of lemon. “It is a variety which appeared in the 1950s in Sicily. It is cultivated on a land of 18.6 miles in length, between the towns of Messina and Taormina, which is the tourist jewel of Sicily. Its name, Interdonato, comes from a lieutenant of General Garibaldi. At the time, the island was a popular tourist destination for the wealthy British. This lemon variety, which is much less acidic than the others, was created to accompany the dishes and drinks, such as oysters and tea, of this British tourist population.” Since 1920, the variety has a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication).
A natural and untreated lemon that deserves to be known
Because of its unusual appearance, the Interdonato lemon has not conquered the Sicilians, but the citrus fruit has the potential to seduce the French. “Given the current context where organic products are so popular and where the trend is to consume healthy products that are respectful of the environment, this lemon really is an interesting product. Its slightly irregular and dull yellow appearance shows its natural character. We are very far from the all smooth, calibrated and shiny yellow lemons that can be found on the market. It is a very natural lemon, a little wild, which is grown on the side of the mountain facing the Etna volcano, using traditional methods. It is a very small production of approximately 52 tons, not more. I went to visit the orchards, and it is incredible to see that we still work like that today, The Interdonato is not waxed or processed before or after harvest. It is not organic but it might as well be. And despite the total lack of treatment, the product keeps very well over time, much better than the other lemons. It stays good for at least two weeks.”
"Additionally, analyses reveal a very low level of acidity. This, and the lack of phytosanitary treatment, makes it a very healthy product, excellent for strengthening the immune defenses. It can be consumed straight as a juice or with water. That is the interesting aspect of this variety.”
Despite its interesting properties, the Interdonato lemon struggles to be known on the French market, but Gérard is rather confident. “I am hopeful that, one day, the sales will take off. The product really deserves to be known, and the efforts of the producers who are respectful of the environment deserve to be rewarded.”
Gérard Lliso at Rungis, presenting the Interdonato lemons
For more information:
Gérard Lliso
Select Agrumes
31 rue Avignon,
94 550 Rungis Complexe, France
Phone: +33 (0) 6 73 84 22 17
gerard@select-agrumes.com
www.select-agrumes.com