ORSARA DI PUGLIA (Fg) – The ancient fruits of Orsara are a superfood that can conquer the markets – PugliaLive – Online information newspaper

The ancient fruits of Orsara are a superfood that can conquer the markets

The research on germplasm conducted in Orsara and throughout Puglia has given surprising results

ORSARA DI PUGLIA (Fg) – The “limoncella apple”, an ancient and very rare fruit still present in Orsara di Puglia, is a superfood, that is to say a food whose consumption guarantees human beings extraordinary benefits for their health and active prevention of a long series of pathologies. And it is not the only type of ancient and very rare fruit present in Orsara di Puglia and, more generally, in the Dauni Mountains. In fact, there are different “ecotypes” for a long series of fruits that are now almost unobtainable, but not in Orsara di Puglia: characteristic varieties of apricots, chestnuts, grapes from native vines, apples. They have been and are “the history” of the biodiversity of the area, but they can be an important piece of the future of Orsara and the Dauni Mountains, if their cultivation is resumed and accompanied by intelligent production, transformation and marketing work. This was discussed on Wednesday 22 May, in the council room of the Municipality of Orsara di Puglia, during a meeting promoted by the municipal administration together with the “Basile Caramia” Agricultural Research, Experimentation and Training Centre, University of Foggia “Department of Sciences Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources” and by the cooperative society “La Forza della Natura” of Orsara di Puglia, on the occasion of the “Puglia Biodiversity Week (20-24 May)”. The title and focus of the conference were centered on “Conservation and valorization of germplasm at risk of erosion of tree crops in Puglia”, a careful and in-depth research work to which numerous farmers and technicians in the area contributed.

The meeting began with the speech of Mario Simonelli, mayor of the municipality of Orsara di Puglia, who underlined the importance of the conservation of biodiversity, also to safeguard a wealth of knowledge and knowledge linked to local species and of dialogue and collaboration that the Orsarese municipal administration wants to continue to carry forward as a possible driving force for the growth and economic well-being of the entire territory of the Dauni Mountains. Pasquale Venerito (Centro Basile Caramia) illustrated the important results of the research which have highlighted and brought to light an “enormous quantity of local fruit-bearing species and varieties throughout the Apulian territory”. Professor Annalisa Tarantino (University of Foggia), however, focused on the morphological and genetic characterization of the germplasm of Apulian tree crops. With the collaboration of several farmers and technicians from Orsara, several fields were geo-referenced and apple fruits were collected (Limoncella, Limoncella rossa or Sergente, Gelata, Appia, Decio, Mela rosa, Cucuzzara, Muso di ciuccio, Chianella), which were analyzed based on qualitative and genetic characteristics. The qualities of ‘ancient’ apples still present in Orsara di Puglia are very rich in “good” sugars and other nutraceutical substances, in particular fructose, organic acids, polyphenols and vitamin C. These ancient fruits, although small, have an extraordinary concentration of aromatic, acidic substances, with a good presence of sugars and consequently a great concentration of organoleptic properties and “typicality” are the guarantee of a genuine and natural product, rich in unaltered aromas and flavors for consumers who seek typicality and organoleptic quality and food safety. Furthermore, new farming systems and modern cultivation techniques were discussed, for productive and quality sustainability, which can provide an attractive economic base for farmers. Sabrina Pupillo (ITS Academy AgriPuglia Foundation) spoke about the sensorial characterization of Apulian fruit varieties, as well as proposing various alternative consumption systems to fresh consumption, such as transformation into jams and syrup or drying and packaging in a modified atmosphere, methods that finally allow these products to enter the market and be available for the entire year. Different local varieties have also been studied for the vine: Tuccanese, Piedirosso, Barbarica, Sacro rosso, Santanna, Baresana bianca, Baresana rossa, Cardinale, on which ampelographic and qualitative analyzes will be carried out in depth. Marco Tappi (FG Territorial Service – Puglia Region) also spoke. The meeting was moderated by Donato Fanelli, from Foglie TV.

“The results of research on ancient varieties and their rediscovery for the economic and employment development of the area are really important, we want to continue pursuing this in collaboration with universities, the agricultural world, research institutes and institutions,” declared Simonelli.