Identikit and main features
The Cuneo province is dominated by two main peach varieties: the one with a smooth skin and yellow flesh peach (nectarines) cultivated in the Saluzzo area and the one hairy skin with yellow flesh of the Roero.
Area of production
We can distinguis two areas of production: the belt of flatlands spread around the centre of Saluzzo and which extends up to Cuneo and the Roero belt which includes the adjoining areas of the municipality of Canale.
History
The first implantations in the Saluzzo region were realised in 1927 thanks to some farmers of Lagnasco. In a short time, a group of fruit growers revived the sector and was able enhance a particular variety of peach: the Hale. The increasing of the cultivated areas was incredible and in 1948 Lagnasco had already create a fair dedicated to this fruit. Meantime other varieties were introduced such as the Impero and the Michelini and, recently, the variety renewal has determined the replacement of peaches with nectarines, especially the yellow flesh variety. The fist peach cultivation experience in Alba date to 1885, when the lawyer Ettore Ferrio of Vezza d’Alba, worried about the vineyards conditions, had the idea of the specialised peach cultivation. He created a peach orchard and, after the first good results, he started to spread other grafting gems. Consequentently this cultivation began to spread in the neighbouring municipalities of Canale and Coneliano, Bra, in the Tanaro valley and in the Langhe. In the last ten years the cultivated area has been reduced because of the poor economic competitiveness of the peach, but it is important to underline that many ancient varieties have been recovered.
