The "Il carciofo. Tra storia, tradizione e innovazione" (Artichokes - history, tradition and innovation) convention that took place on September 24th in Ramacca gathered scholars and experts from the agricultural sector with the sole objective of relaunching production on the Catania plain and assess new market opportunities.
A moment during the event
Ramacca represents the largest area destined to artichoke production, with over 6500 hectares having a considerable socio-economic impact. The main destination is the regional market, though part of the produce is sent to the national market and even abroad.
Sicily's direct competitors are the areas south of the Mediterranean sea, while Apulia and Lazio are the main competitors on a domestic level.
More in general, Sicily is the leading artichoke producer region in the world. Artichokes started spreading on the Sicilian territory from the end of the 19th century but it is only after the war, thanks to extensive reclamation work and a the deep transformations brought about by the land reform, that artichokes became the leading product for local agriculture.
Speakers discussed the "Violetto" variety in particular, known as "Ramacchese", and the need to focus on processing to increase its commercial value. Once again, we can see how the potential of a product increases in the presence of a complete chain that is as short as possible. Fresh artichoke consumption currently represents only part of a possible future scenario that will include processing.
Domenico Targia and Rosario Sallemi
An opening speech by Domenico Targia was followed by talks involving extraordinary commissioner at the Ramacca Municipality, historian Antonino Cucuzza; Giancarlo Colelli from the University of Foggia; Sara Lombardo, Gaetano Pandino, Gaetano Pesce and Aurelio Scavo from the University of Catania; Andrea Passanisi, president of Coldiretti Catania; Giovanni Pappalardo from the Council of the South-East Sicily Chamber of Commerce; Giampaolo Ferri (connected remotely) from Coop Alleanza 3.0; Francesco Vescera, scholar studying the territory, environment, food and culture; Francesco Nicodemo, extraordinary commissioner of eastern Sicily reclamation consortia and Alfio Papale, Ars deputy.
The Ramacca municipality organized the event with the cooperation of expert agronomist Rosario Sallemi, known for helping various public and private bodies organize conventions and international fairs on fresh produce cultivation. During a phone interview, he stressed the "need to work to obtain the Pdo or Pgi mark for Ramacca artichokes. The objective of the event was to deliver to the city the results of a technical and scientific convention - a whole series of data and studies that must be used to improve production techniques and promote this amazing product. All this with a view to the next Sagra del Carciofo to be held in 2022."