EN Official Journal of the European Union C 128/11

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

(2015/C 128/09)

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

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (2)

‘PATATA NOVELLA DI GALATINA’

EC No: IT-PDO-0005-01184 – 28.11.2013

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1. Name

‘Patata novella di Galatina’

2. Member State or Third Country

Italy

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 product to which the name in (1) applies

The ‘Patata novella di Galatina’ refers exclusively to tubers of the species Solanum tuberosum of the Sieglinde variety.

The main characteristics of the consumer product are as follows:

Physical characteristics

— the epidermis (skin or peel) is glossy and deep yellow, although red soil residues from cultivation give the skin a rusty, chocolate colour;

— long oval-shaped and medium-sized tubers;

— smooth, easily removable skin that is not fully formed;

— whole, ungerminated, regular-shaped and defect-free tubers, with no abnormal flavour or odour;

— dried tubers, without greening, cracks, bruises, bites, marks or deformities.

Chemical Characteristics

— low starch content (no more than 17 %) and low dry matter content (no more than 21 %);

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

All production stages from planting to harvesting must take place within the identified geographical area.

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

—

3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling

The label on the packaging must include the following information:

— the PDO logo and the words ‘Patata novella di Galatina’, in larger print than any other wording;

— the origin (area of production and packaging);

— the name, head office and company name of the packager;

— the net weight as sold;

— the size-grading;

— the identification batch (lot) number;

— the harvest and packaging dates;

— the European Union emblem.

It is forbidden to add any qualification to the designation referred to in Article 1 other than that included in this product specification.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The production area of the ‘Patata novella di Galatina’ PDO covers the administrative areas of the following municipalities in the Province of Lecce: Acquarica del Capo, Alliste, Casarano, Castrignano del Capo, Galatina, Galatone, Gallipoli, Matino, Melissano, Morciano Di Leuca, Nardò, Parabita, Patù, Presicce, Racale, Salve, Sannicola, Taviano and Ugento.

5. Link with the geographical area

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area

The ‘Arco Ionico Salentino’ is the area typically used for growing the ‘Patata novella di Galatina’; the area extends from the central strip of the Ionian coast in the Province of Lecce to the interior of the peninsula.

In this area the monthly average temperature of the coldest month (January) varies from 9,5 to 10 °C and that of the warmest month (August) varies from 25,6 to 26 °C, with frequent maximum temperatures of over 40 °C; in addition, the daily temperature fluctuation (the difference between the minimum and maximum temperature over a 24-hour period) is not great, due to the favourable influence exerted by the sea.

Average annual sunshine is greater than that of Apulia as a whole, which is 2 600 hours (in Italy it varies from 2 100 to 2 800).

The distinguishing feature of the land used for cultivation is the ‘red soil’, which is present along the entire Ionian coastline and makes this area unique. The soil is sandy and slightly acidic to neutral, with high levels of available phosphorus, available iron and exchangeable potassium, but with an average organic matter content and a low total nitrogen content. The red soil is a typical example of ‘zonal or climatic soil’ in this area, i.e. soils whose properties are strongly influenced by the climatic conditions in which they are formed. Variations in climate affect both alteration of the rocks making up the soil’s parent material and natural pedogenetic processes.

Another specificity of the geographical area is the skill shown by the farmers in harvesting the ‘Patata novella di Galatina’, using simple mechanical tools that do not come into direct contact with the tubers. The freshly-harvested potatoes are immediately marketed without being washed.

5.2. Specificity of the product

The ‘Patata novella di Galatina’ is widely recognised and appreciated because of its early availability and its specific aesthetic characteristics, i.e. a skin usually covered in soil residues, which give the tubers their typical rusty colour.

The ‘Patata novella di Galatina’ is harvested by 30 June each year.

The soil residues covering the tubers recall the typical colour of the soil in the area where they are grown, and is due to the fact that the tubers are sold after harvesting and sorting without being washed, which would damage the potato’s tender skin.

Another recognisable characteristic of the ‘Patata novella di Galatina’ is its low dry matter content.

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)

The harvest takes place as early as possible between spring and autumn, owing not only to genetic and agro-technical factors, but also and especially to the specific soil and climatic conditions where they are grown.

With regard to temperature, the thermal conditions in the geographical area are optimal for the various stages of phenological development. The fact that the soil temperature never drops below 3–4 °C prior to germination means that the tuber-seed undergoes a brief period of dormancy until warmer temperatures are recorded between the end of February and the beginning of March. This increase in temperature is sufficient to cause rapid germination and sprouting.

The characteristics of the soil in which the crop is planted also have a direct influence on the earliness of the tubers, on their chemical and physical characteristics and on the maturation of the periderm.

The sandy quality of the soil in which the ‘Patata novella di Galatina’ is grown means that it warms up easily, allowing the tubers to begin growing quickly and therefore to mature at an earlier stage than potatoes grown elsewhere. In addition, the fact that the sandy soil drains easily makes it easier to carry out work such as seeding and harvesting; the timeliness of this work contributes to the earliness of the ‘Patata novella di Galatina’.

The characteristics of the soil in which the potatoes are grown also have a direct influence on the potato’s low dry matter content. With the soil’s sandy quality and its organic matter content, there are no obstacles to disrupt the potato’s growth cycle and the tubers reach their full potential, achieving considerable volumes. For this reason the potatoes have a lower specific weight and, therefore, a lower dry matter content, which is a fundamental aspect of the chemical characteristics of the ‘Patata novella di Galatina’.

The sandy soil in the cultivation area enables the ‘Patata novella di Galatina’ to develop uniformly, maintaining its shape, and the skin is able to mature while retaining its smooth and shiny appearance, taking on the typical ‘rusty’ or ‘chocolate’ colour from the red soil residues.

With regard to crop performance in relation to the duration of daily light exposure (photoperiod), conditions are optimal for the potato’s growth in this area and during the cultivation period (November–June). The short photoperiod typical in this area delays or prevents flowering, which makes it possible to produce a greater tuber yield and at an earlier date.

The denomination and thus the attribution of the product to a well-defined area, Galatina, gives it a guarantee of quality and bears witness to its historical presence in this area.

Economic and productive aspects

Growing potatoes is essential for maintaining the agricultural economic balance in several municipalities along the Arco Ionico Salentino coast. The decision to choose the potato as opposed to other horticultural crops (such as watermelons or peppers, which are regularly grown in the surrounding area) was motivated not only by the soil and climatic conditions that favour production, but also by the fact that the potato is relatively easy to grow compared to other vegetables and requires fewer technical resources and less financial capital. Furthermore, in comparison to the other crops mentioned above, the potato is well suited to cultivation alongside olive trees, which have been and, in a vast majority of cases, continue to be planted at high densities on traditional farms. In this context, the practice of picking olives early (by October) straight from the tree has been widespread for decades. This makes it possible to produce a much higher quality olive oil than those made using olives gathered from the ground which ties up the land for a longer period of time. The land where the tuber seeds will be planted is thus free to be prepared much further in advance. Sowing the seeds early leads to earlier maturation of tubers and therefore to a much earlier harvest.

Reference to publication of the specification

(Article 5(7) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (3))

The full text of the product specification is available on the following website: http://www.politicheagricole.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/3335

or alternatively:

by going directly to the homepage of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy (www.politicheagricole.it).

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

(2) OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12. Replaced by Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

(3) See footnote 2.