EN Official Journal of the European Union C 252/14

Publication of an application pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2017/C 252/10)

This publication confers the right to oppose the application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1).

SINGLE DOCUMENT

‘MAKÓI PETREZSELYEMGYÖKÉR’

EU No: PGI-HU-02155 — 22.7.2016

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

1. Title

‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’

2. Member State or Third Country

Hungary

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1. Type of product

Class 1.6. Fruit, vegetables and cereals, fresh or processed

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

The protected geographical indication ‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’ designates a particular root of the Petroselinum crispum var. tuberosum Makó long parsley variety.

It has a smooth, level surface and dense texture, its flesh is white, its outer colour creamy white, and it has a slightly sweet taste. It has a pleasant flavour and aroma and is highly productive and long-lasting.

A parsley root can be called ‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’ if it is more than 30 cm in length and at least 3 cm in width.

It has an extremely high dry matter content, averaging 35-40 %, though values above 45 % are not unheard of, which is outstanding in comparison with other varieties. The high dry matter content has a positive effect on the product's shelf life.

When placed on the market ‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’ must be healthy and intact.

3.3. Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

—

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

‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’ is grown and harvested in the geographical area defined in point 4.

3.5. Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

Before being sold, ‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’ is soaked, without its foliage, in a bathtub, washed in a barrel washer, graded, sorted, packaged and, finally, dried.

During grading, a parsley root can be called ‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’ if it is more than 30 cm in length and at least 3 cm in width.

All technological processes must take place in the Makó micro-region. The product must also be prepared at the place of storage, as otherwise the root starts to wither.

The product is stored in containers. During storage, a temperature of between 1 °C and 3 °C and — to prevent loss from shrinkage — 70 % humidity must be ensured.

‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’ is packaged by the producer according to the customer's needs. Packaging units of ‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’ PGI products:

— In trays of 3, 350 gr and 500 gr

— Wrapped in microfilm: 350 gr

— Wrapped in macrofilm: 350 gr, 500 gr

— In M10 crates, individually lined with film: 5, 6, 8 and 10 kg

The producer is required to keep a detailed record of each product it produces and markets.

3.6. Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

The individual labels used for the product are issued by the Farmers' Society of the Csanád region, as the Makó branch of the National Association of Hungarian Farmers' Societies (MAGOSZ). The following items must appear on the label:

— the word combination ‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’,

— the ARDA registration number.

The label shown below is received by all producers of the product bearing the name, regardless of whether they belong to a cooperative.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The production area of ‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’ is located in a contiguous area within the ‘Makó micro-region’ of Csongrád County.

‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’ is grown within the administrative boundaries of the following localities: Makó, Csanádpalota, Apátfalva, Ambrózfalva, Csanádalberti, Ferencszállás, Földeák, Királyhegyes, Kiszombor, Klárafalva, Kövegy, Magyarcsanád, Maroslele, Nagyér, Nagylak, Óföldeák and Pitvaros.

5. Link with the geographical area

Specificities of the area

The soils of the region were formed from deposits from the shifting Maros riverbed, whose main rock formation is yellow top soil, or loess, the decomposition of which resulted in today's highly fertile soil.

The loess and alluvial soil have a high nutrient content, are rich in trace elements, medium dense, friable and flat-surfaced, with good air and water retention. In terms of physical composition, the soil contains lime, humus and 10-15 % clay. The soil's characteristic friability is the result of its lime content, which breaks down the clayey part into crumbs, so that the loamy soil never seals.

The Makó region's most notable climate feature is its dry, hot summers. During the growing season there is considerable sunshine, with 2 100 sunshine hours per year, and a consistently high temperature, with 85-90 summer days, 30 hot days, an average temperature of 18,1 °C, and a heat sum of 3 340 °C.

The region receives very little cloud cover, with a rate of some 30-55 %. Average annual precipitation at the mouth of the river Maros is 580 mm, with higher amounts at the end of spring and the beginning of summer.

Specificity of the product

‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’ has the following characteristics:

— it grows long and thick, gradually tapering, with a smooth, level surface,

— it is more than 30 cm in length and 3-5 cm in width,

— its flesh is white, its outer colour creamy white, it has a slightly sweet taste and a pleasant flavour and aroma,

— it is cold-resistant and has an extremely good shelf life: 150 days after the autumn harvest, without cold storage (the shelf life for other varieties of parsley under similar conditions is 90 days), or up to 1 year under optimum storage conditions (suitable humidity and temperature values).

Causal link

The unique character of ‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’ is the result of the geographical environment, the link that has been formed with the Makó region, as well as natural (soil and climate) and to some extent human factors.

The Makó region has a notable tradition of vegetable-growing. Its formation and development is most likely linked to the region's large-scale onion-growing industry, and it probably started to be grown around the same time as the onion, in the second half of the 18th century.

The first golden age of production and demand for parsley in the Makó region occurred during the middle and second half of the 19th century. This golden age was preceded by expert selection work that led to the variety of the Petroselinum crispum var. tuberosum Makó long parsley grown to this day.

Thanks to their breeding work, the farmers of Makó developed a variety of parsley in keeping with the region's environmental conditions that is still grown today, a variety whose unique character stems mainly from its high dry matter content and outstanding shelf life.

The extremely high dry matter content formed thanks to the characteristic soil of the Makó region, to soil-improvement work, nutrient supply based on soil tests, and climatic conditions, particularly the hot, dry summers.

Its outstanding shelf life is the result of this high dry matter content and the extremely wide root collar typical of ‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’. The combined effect of these two factors means that when it reaches maturity it can withstand temperatures as low as -10 °C to -20 °C.

All in all, the production of ‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’ is long-established: it has had a marketing authorisation, as a local variety, since 1951. The region's farmers have managed to pass down their farms, expertise and production techniques seamlessly from generation to generation, thus preserving the tradition of growing ‘Makói petrezselyemgyökér’.

Reference to publication of the specification

(the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of this Regulation)

http://elelmiszerlanc.kormany.hu/download/1/f5/b1000/Makói%20petrezselyemgyökér.pdf

on page 24.

(1) OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.