EN Official Journal of the European Union C 130/12

Publication of an application pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

2009/C 130/08

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006. Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months of the date of this publication

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘PESCA DI VERONA’

EC No: IT-PGI-0005-0579-15.12.2006

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1. Name

‘Pesca di Verona’

2. Member State or Third Country

Italy

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product (Annex II)

Class 1.6 Fruit, vegetables and cereals, fresh or processed

3.2. Description of the product to which the name in (1) applies

‘Pesca di Verona’ PGI refers to the Persica vulgaris Mill. species and is reserved to peaches with white or yellow flesh and nectarines with yellow flesh from early-, intermediate- and late-ripening cultivars.

The peaches and nectarines have always been marketed under the single name ‘Pesca di Verona’.

The permitted varieties are subdivided by type and ripening period:

Yellow peaches: Rich May, Crimson Lady, Spring Belle, Royal Gem, Royal Glory, Vistarichn (early); Rich Lady, Rome Star, Zee Lady (intermediate); Kaweah (late).

White peaches: Maria Bianca, Greta (intermediate); Tendresse, Tardivo Zuliani, Nichelini (late).

Yellow nectarines: Rita Star, Laura, Big Top (early); Venus, Stark Redgold, Sweet Red (intermediate); Sweet Lady (late).

When released for consumption, ‘Pesca di Verona’ PGI must have the following quality characteristics:

— the shape of the fruit must be round-oblate for the yellow and white peaches and round-oblong for the yellow nectarines;

— the colour of the skin of ‘Verona’ peaches and nectarines must be very extensive and intense, a characteristic that can be deemed to be over colour as compared to the basic colour. More specifically, it must cover more than 70 % of the entire skin surface of the yellow peaches, 60 % of that of the yellow nectarines and 30 % of that of the white peaches;

— the flesh must be very firm and juicy with a distinctive flavour resulting from the right balance between sugar content and acidity owing to the low level of plant growth and the specific climate. The firmness of the yellow peaches must be greater than 3,7 kg/cm2, that of the yellow nectarines greater than 4 kg/cm2 and that of the white peaches greater than 3 kg/cm2;

— the flavour is sweet, as a result of a minimum dry refractive index of 9,5 °Bx for the early-ripening cultivars, 10,5 °Bx for the intermediate-ripening cultivars and 11,0 °Bx for the late-ripening cultivars;

— the taste quality is balanced/sub-acidic, owing to a degree of ripeness, expressed as the ratio between the sugar content (°Bx) and acidity (meq/cm2) greater than 1,5 for the sub-acidic varieties and 0,7 for the acidic varieties;

— the minimum size of the fruit must be 61 mm for the early-ripening cultivars and 67 mm for the intermediate- and late-ripening cultivars.

Only peaches and nectarines belonging to the ‘extra’ and ‘I’ categories may be recognised as ‘Pesca di Verona’ PGI.

3.3. Raw materials (for processed products only)

—

3.4. Feed (for products of animal origin only)

—

3.5. Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

The planting systems, tree forms and techniques for winter and summer pruning must be tailored to the conditions of the production area, so as to allow all parts of the trees foliage to receive light and ventilation. Only the area’s traditional tree forms are permitted, namely ‘Veronese low bush-form’ and transversal ‘Y-shaped’, with compulsory green cover.

Given the sensitivity of the peaches to handling, the product is harvested on at least three separate occasions and harvesting must be carried out by hand.

3.6. Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc.

‘Pesca di Verona’ PGI is packaged either on trays sealed using plastic film, or in baskets weighing 1 kg or 2 kg, or in cardboard or wooden or plastic crates with the following dimensions: 30 × 40, 30 × 50 or 40 × 60.

It is marketed from 10 June to 20 September with stickers on 100 % of the produce or in packages on which the guarantee seal is affixed in such a way as to ensure that it is broken when the package is opened.

3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling

The logo of ‘Pesca di Verona’ PGI must be reproduced on the product and packages, and in particular on the preprinted tape on the baskets, the preprinted film on the trays, the packaging (crates) and the slips (trays and baskets). The category ‘peach’ or ‘nectarine’ may be indicated on the label on the package.

All other references not provided for in this product specification are prohibited. Use of the firm’s trade mark is authorised. However, all signs/references other than ‘Pesca di Verona IGP’ must be in significantly smaller characters than those used for ‘Pesca di Verona IGP’.

The logo is circular. The border contains the wording ‘Indicazione Geografica Protetta’ (‘Protected) Geographical Indication’] in the upper part and the abbreviation ‘IGP’ (‘PGI’) in the central lower part. Inside the circle is depicted a peach emerging from the hilly landscape of the Verona area. The wording ‘Pesca di Verona’ is embellished by a small flag on which is written ‘dal 1584’ (‘since 1584’), the date of the first documentation concerning Verona peaches.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The production area of ‘Pesca di Verona’ PGI is restricted to Verona Province and, in particular, covers the entire territory of the following municipalities: Bussolengo, Buttapietra, Castel d’Azzano, Mozzecane, Pastrengo, Pescantina, Povegliano, S. Giovanni Lupatoto, Sommacampagna, Sona, Valeggio sul Mincio, Villafranca, Castelnuovo del Garda, Lazise, Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella, San Martino Buon Albergo, Verona, Zevio.

5. Link with the geographical area

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area

Environmental factors

The area in which ‘Pesca di Verona’ fruit are grown has a very favourable edaphic environment, since it is made up of fluvioglacial soils. The active layer of these soils is very skeletal and rarely exceeds a depth of 40 cm. It rests on deposits of gravel and sand, making it is perfectly drained and well suited to peach tree cultivation, which requires a porous and aerated soil environment.

The entire area in which ‘Pesca di Verona’ fruit are grown enjoys a temperate and pleasant climate in all seasons, thanks to the presence of Lake Garda, particularly in those months which are traditionally counted among those with the harshest climate.

Another fundamentally important factor is the protection provided by the Pre-Alps, the Berici and Euganean Hills, Mount Baldo and the other moraine slopes of Lake Garda and the Adige river. The minimum winter temperatures rarely fall below –10 °C, while nevertheless satisfying the various cultivars requirement for cold temperatures. In general, rain mainly falls during autumn and spring and annual precipitation ranges between 800 mm and 1 000 mm.

Historical factors

The reputation of ‘Pesca di Verona’ has very long-standing roots. As long ago as the Roman period, Pliny referred in his works to the ‘furry fruit’ cultivated in the Verona area. Andrea Mantegna subsequently depicted peaches in the Basilica of Saint Zeno in Verona (1400).

The motto ‘Mangiate le squisite pesche di Verona’ (‘Eat the exquisite peaches of Verona’) was coined in an article in a local newspaper in 1934 and subsequently used on posters, banners and cards in all the best restaurants, in public offices, banks etc. The term ‘Pesca di Verona’ was used to refer to both peaches and nectarines.

Today, ‘Pesca di Verona’ has a strong reputation and plays a central role in important competitions for best product, fruit-growing exhibitions and traditional local festivals.

5.2. Specificity of the product

‘Pesca di Verona’ PGI is characterised by: round-oblate shape for the yellow and white peaches and round-oblong shape for the yellow nectarines; skin colour which is very extensive and intense, a characteristic that can be deemed to be over colour as compared to the basic colour. The flesh is very firm and juicy, with a distinctive flavour owing to the right balance between sugar content and acidity.

5.3. Causal link between the geographical area and the quality or characteristics of the product (for PDO) or a specific quality, the reputation or other characteristic of the product (for PGI)

‘Pesca di Verona’ has qualities and specific characteristics that are influenced by both the characteristics of the production area and traditional, centuries-old human activity.

In particular — as regards the specific environmental conditions — the wide temperature range, the proximity of the lake and the morning dew that is deposited on the fruit give the skin of ‘Pesca di Verona’ bright and intense colouration, which is very extensive as compared to the overall surface of the fruit.

Moreover, the fluvioglacial edaphic environment leads to limited plant development, which helps the foliage to receive light and ventilation and thus to bear fruit with the typical intense skin colouration, the right balance between sugar content and acidity and appropriate size and flesh consistency.

To the favourable environmental conditions must be added human action which, thanks to genetic improvement activity and traditional tree forms (‘Veronese low bush-form’ and transversal ‘Y-shaped’), together with well-established techniques of green pruning and thinning out, allow fruit with an unmistakeable outer appearance and a good balance between acids and sugars to be obtained.

Reference to publication of the specification:

The government launched the national objection procedure with the publication of the proposal for recognising ‘Pesca di Verona’ in the Official Gazette of the Italian Republic No 64 of 17 March 2006. The full text of the product specification is available on the internet:

on the following website: www.politicheagricole.it/DocumentiPubblicazioni/Search_Documenti_Elenco.htm?txtTipoDocumento=Disciplinare%20in%20esame%20UE&txtDocArgomento=Prodotti%20di%20Qualit%E0>Prodotti%20Dop,%20Igp%20e%20Stg

or:

by going directly to the home page of the Ministry (www.politicheagricole.it) and clicking on ‘Prodotti di Qualità’ (on the left of the screen) and then on ‘Disciplinari di Produzione all’esame dell’UE (Reg CE 510/2006)’.