Rose plum, Rose plum, Pink plum, Santa Rosa
Product included in the national list of traditional agri-food products (PAT)
PAT type : Vegetable products in their natural or processed state
Technical data sheet of the traditional agri-food product (PAT)
Production area: The municipalities of Altofonte and Monreale, within the Palermo metropolitan area (identified by the Presidential Decree of the Sicily Region dated August 10, 1995). These territories historically belonged to the Norman King William II and subsequently to the Archdiocese of Monreale.
Brief product description: Small, elliptical fruits with a deep yellow skin that sometimes have pink/reddish spots, which likely give them their name. The plums are 3-3,5 cm in diameter and have a sweet flavor that intensifies as they ripen. Ripens in July.
Description of processing and ripening methods: Plum trees are grown using standard fruit-growing techniques. Special attention is paid, however, to the harvesting process, which requires a high level of specialization. Harvesting is done manually, trying to keep the stem intact and removing as little bloom (a white powder on the fruit's surface) as possible.
Specific materials and equipment used for preparation and packaging: During the harvest, traditional wicker baskets called “panari” or “panarotti” and ladders are used, which are delicately placed on the strongest branches.
Description of processing, storage and maturing rooms: No particular and/or specific rooms required.
Elements that prove that the methodologies have been practiced in a homogeneous manner and according to traditional rules for a period of no less than 25 years: Pink Plums are cited in various historical texts and in 1963 the “Contribution to the study of plum cultivars of the Province of Palermo” was published in the “Rivista di floricoltura italiana” carried out by the Institute of Tree Cultivation of the University of Palermo in which the variety in question is analysed using a scientific method.
In the Monreale territory there are several specimens of more than twenty-five years old.
The variety is mentioned in the "REPERTORY OF SICILIAN AUTOCTONE CULTIVARS / ACCESSIONS OF THE MAIN FRUIT TREE SPECIES" (Annex A DA 11 of 18/01/2011)
of the Department of Agricultural and Food Resources of the Sicilian Region in the section "SUSINO (Prunus Domestica L. and similar)" as SUS 17 - SUSINO - PRUNO ROSA.
Source Pat Cards: Sicily Region
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Photo: web
Informational contributions : Web, Sicily Region
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