Identikit and main features
In the last twenties Piedmont has reached high quality levels in the production of small fruits, such as the raspberries, blueberries, currants, gooseberry and wild strawberries. These cultivation spread in particular in some areas of the Cuneo and Turin thanks to the acid and draining soils, full of organic substances.
Area of production
The area of production corresponds to the Cuneo province, the Po and the Tanaro valleys, (250-1200 mamsl).
History
Already in the Middle Ages the exploitation of the minor resources of the woods was granted as right of use. Whereas the lords kept the best products, they allowed poor people to exploit the land minor products. For this reason the small fruits have been for centuries an important source of livelihood. In the ‘60s the productions of these fruits has become a real commercial activity, which refurnished markets, but also the industrial food and cosmetic companies. In the first half of the ‘80s it was developed, in particular in the Bisalta area, the production of raspberries for fresh consumption, In the ‘60s also the blueberries have been commercialised, even if producers sold only the spontaneous fruits picked on mountains. They sold fruits on markets but also to the pharmacy industries. In the ‘80s spread the Giant American blueberries in the area of the Bisalta and then also in the one of Saluzzo.
