He is convinced of the great quality of his shoots which, he says, "we cultivate with love and technical attention, also because we enjoy the work done by the soft, floods, through which the Piave, over the centuries, has forged a sandy-loamy soil particularly suitable for this crop of excellence ".
The virtual journey of VenetoAgricolturaChannel (the multimedia information channel of the regional agency) continues between the PDOs and PGIs of Veneto, or the excellence of quality agri-food, with a stop this week in Cimadolmo (Tv) , to learn about the its ancient and young Asparagus which celebrates, in 2021, the 20 years of registration of the EU in the register of Protected Geographical Indication products, "IGP" (https://youtu.be/8IMUJWoJ6Mo).
An old story then? Yes, a historian such as Agostinetti already spoke about it 350 years ago in the work "The hundred and ten memories that form the good factor of Villa" (1679), a text present in the archives of the Municipality of Cimadolmo. But cultivation was certainly also practiced in the Middle Ages.
One story, many stories. That of the PGI first. Twenty years ago , in 2001 , the European Union awarded the Protected Geographical Indication to the White Asparagus grown in the 11 Municipalities located along the Treviso area of the Piave river: Cimadolmo, Breda di Piave, Fontanelle, Mareno di Piave, Maserada sul Piave, Oderzo, Ormelle, Ponte di Piave, San Polo di Piave, Santa Lucia di Piave and Vazzola.
Then that of Paolo Zanusso: "My parents are not professional growers, but in the garden there were asparagus, for our consumption", he says. "I like to live in the open air, I am interested in the processes of nature; so I attended" Cerletti ", the agricultural school in Conegliano; now they asked me to take an interest in the Consortium, they insisted ... and here I am .. . ". On the Consortium he recalls that "the producers of Cimadolmo IGP are about twenty, many historians ..., some young people like me", who became such for passion and tenacity, who together with the other partners want to increase the social base and therefore also the total production, because "I see a lot of potential and therefore an important future for our asparagus". Then remember that the "Strada dell'Asparago bianco di Cimadolmo PGI" (https://bit.ly/3nLZLcf) is also active in the area, which associates local authorities, producers, trade and tourism operators for the promotion of the territory of this crop.
The video of VenetoAgricolturaChannel offers, for completeness, a technical and organoleptic study on the shoots of the white Asparagus of Cimadolmo PGI , that is, the young edible sprouts of elongated shape, which are totally white, whole, with a fresh, healthy appearance and smell; with a particularly delicate flavor, they are tender and sweet, devoid of fibrousness. The temperate-humid climate with high rainfall springs, typical of this area, favors its rapid growth. They are rich in essential nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium, vitamins, including C, riboflavin and folic acid. But low in calories and carbohydrates and high in protein. Cooked, Cimadolmo PGI is ideal as a side dish, appetizer and risotto, but also as a single dish, offering the classic "asparagus and eggs", with oil or butter and black pepper.
Commercially, the product is offered in the Asparago Bianco di Cimadolmo PGI type, followed by the indication of the Extra or Prima category. It is packaged in bunches of 0.5 to 1 kg. And of course, the guarantee seal containing the Consortium logo and the Protected Geographical Indication symbol must stand out on the label.
