EN Official Journal of the European Union C 192/19

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

2010/C 192/08

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 (1). Statements of objection must reach the Commission within six months of the date of this publication.

SINGLE DOCUMENT

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘PERA DE LLEIDA’

EC No: ES-PDO-0005-0698-29.05.2008

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1. Title:

‘Pera de Lleida’

2. Member State or third country:

Spain

3. Description of the agricultural product or foodstuff:

3.1. Product type:

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

3.2. Description of the product to which the name in point 1 applies:

The fruit protected by the ‘Pera de Lleida’ designation belongs to the Pyrus communis L. species, the varieties limonera, blanquilla and conference, and quality classes Extra and Class I, and is for fresh consumption.

Its characteristics at the time of delivery vary according to the variety:

Minimum size (diameter) for both Extra and Class I: limonera, blanquilla and conference: 60 mm

Hardness, firmness of flesh: limonera — 11 lb-14 lb (5,0 kg-6,4 kg); blanquilla — 9 lb-13 lb (4,1 kg-5,9 kg) and conference — 10 lb-13 lb (4,5 kg-5,9 kg)

Russeting: limonera — none; blanquilla — none; conference — yes

Minimum dissolvable solids: sugar (degrees Brix): limonera — 11,0; blanquilla — 12,0; conference — 12,5

Colouring of skin (when ripe): limonera — green-yellow; blanquilla — green/green-grey; conference — green/yellowish-green.

Colouring of flesh: limonera — ivory; blanquilla — white; conference — yellowish white

Juiciness: limonera — medium; blanquilla — high; conference — medium

3.3. Raw materials (for processed products only):

Not applicable

3.4. Feed (for products of animal origin only):

Not applicable

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

In order to preserve the quality of the product, the whole process from production to labelling takes place in the defined geographical area. The skin of the pears is very sensitive to damage and bruising during transport from the orchard to the fruit stores and it is essential that the whole process takes place within the same geographical area.

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

Not applicable

3.7. Specific rules on labelling:

On the standardised packaging the name of the protected designation of origin (Pera de Lleida), the PDO and Community logos, as well as other information generally required under the legislation in force must feature prominently.

Reproduction in black and white of the PDO logo:

Pantone colours of the PDO logo: Pantone 3965C and Pantone 392C

4. Concise definition of the geographical area:

The defined geographical area is in the irrigable area known as ‘Llano de Lleida’. It is located in the province of Lleida and consists of the municipality of Lleida and the following municipalities in the following districts around Lleida: El Segrià District: Aitona, Albatàrrec, Alcarràs, Alcoletge, Alfarràs, Alfés, Alguaire, Almacelles, Almatret, Almenar, Alpicat, Artesa de Lleida, Benavent de Segrià, Corbins, Els Alamús, Gimenells and el Pla de la Font, La Granja d'Escarp, La Portella, Maials, Massalcoreig, Montoliu de Lleida, Puigverd de Lleida, Rosselló, Sarroca de Lleida, Seròs, Soses, Sudanell, Sunyer, Torre-serona, Torrefarrera, Torres de Segre, Vilanova de la Barca and Vilanova de Segrià. Les Garrigues District: Arbeca, Les Borges Blanques, Castelldans, Juneda and Puiggròs. La Noguera District: Albesa, Algerri, Balaguer, Bellcaire d'Urgell, Bellmunt d'Urgell, Camarasa, Ivars de Noguera, Menàrguens, Montgai, Os de Balaguer, Penelles, Preixens, La Sentiu de Sió, Térmens, Torrelameu and Vallfogona de Balaguer. El Pla d'Urgell District: Barbens, Bell-lloc d'Urgell, Bellvís, Castellnou de Seana, Fondarella, Golmés, Ivars d'Urgell, Linyola, Miralcamp, Mollerussa, El Palau d'Anglesola, El Poal, Sidamon, Torregrossa, Vila-sana and Vilanova de Bellpuig.

The area of preparation and packing is the same as the area of production.

5. Link with the geographical area:

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area:

The defined geographical area is to the east of the Ebro Valley, in the irrigable area known as ‘the Lleida Plain’, a plain near the coast at an average altitude of 155 m above sea level.

In orographical terms, the area is bounded by a series of mountain ranges to which it owes its well-known distinctiveness of territory and climate. The boundaries are formed to the north by the Sierra del Montsec and to the south and west by the Sierra Prelitoral Catalana (Catalonian inland range).

The Lleida Plain is intersected by the Segre and Noguera Ribagorzana rivers, a network of irrigation channels and a series of gently rolling, mostly flat-topped hills.

This is an irrigable area with a shallow soil layer over carbonate materials that lend it distinctive properties such as low pH values, moderate levels of organic material, a medium to fairly fine texture and generally good drainage.

The area has a dry, Mediterranean, continental climate, characterised by its strong contrasts, i.e. significant changes in temperature from cold in the winter to very hot in the summer. Another characteristic of the area is the fog in the winter. This starts in mid-November and lasts until the end of January, meaning that there are about 53 days of fog a year. The fog stays on the Lleida Plain for a long time as the surrounding mountains prevent the winds that usually sweep through the Ebro Valley clearing it. This makes it possible to produce pears in a part of Europe that is relatively far south and close to the sea.

The low winter temperatures make it possible to accumulate the very high number of chilling hours (CH) needed for growing pears, with 1 300 to 1 700 CH accumulated in Lleida over the winter.

Average temperatures in summer are around 21 °C, with average highs of 28 to 32 °C.

The high level of sunlight — between 2 600 and 2 800 hours a year — also sets the area apart.

The Lleida Plain has very low rainfall in the spring and autumn. This is largely due to the fact that the Atlantic storms and blizzard at those times of year are spent by the time they reach Lleida, having dropped most of their rain further west. Rainstorms from the Mediterranean are less frequent as they are halted by the mountains of the Sierra Litoral Catalana (Catalonian coastal range) and the Sierra Prelitoral Catalana (Catalonian inland range). Average annual rainfall in the area is 369 mm.

5.2. Specificity of the product:

The distinguishing characteristics of ‘Pera de Lleida’ PDO pears are their sweet flavour, relatively round shape, their skin colouring and the type of russeting in the case of the conference variety.

‘Pera de Lleida’ has traditionally been recognised for particular aspects of its flavour, which can be summed up as being one of intense sweetness. This sweetness is due not only to the higher content of soluble solids, but also to a higher ratio of soluble solids to acids. All varieties of Lleida pears have a higher soluble solids to acids ratio, and are consequently sweeter, than pears produced elsewhere.

The characteristic shape of ‘Pera de Lleida’ PDO pears is rounder than that of pears of the same varieties from other fruit-growing areas.

Depending on the variety, the colour of the skin is more yellowish or lighter than that of fruit from elsewhere. The limonera and conference varieties have more yellowish shades and limonera, in particular, has a rosier colouring on its sun-ripened side. Pears of the blanquilla variety have a more whitish skin.

In the case of the conference variety, another unique factor is the irregular, very rustic russeting.

All these distinguishing factors give the fruit its particular unique character. ‘Pera de Lleida’ pears have some very particular organoleptic qualities that are well known among traders and prized by consumers.

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 particularities of the surroundings of the defined geographical area are reflected as follows in the characteristics of the pears:

Each characteristic is the result of the geographical and climatic factors in the defined geographical area. The geographical and climatic conditions are described in Section 5.1.

Sweetness: this characteristic is due to the various conditions applying to growing the pears in the geographical area. Compared with other production areas, the ‘Pera de Lleida’ PDO comes from an area subject to greater heat and water stress due to the higher temperatures, with more hours of sunlight and very low rainfall, all of which — together with the type of soil (shallow and fine) — make for particular growing conditions, including a greater capacity for synthesising sugar.

Skin colouring: partly thanks to its orography and closeness to the Mediterranean coast, the area receives a high number of hours of sunlight and this is key in breaking down chlorophyll in the skin of the pears so as to produce the more yellowish colouring or shading of a lighter green as compared with the same varieties grown elsewhere.

Shape of fruit: due to the location of the geographical area in terms of its altitude and (more southerly) latitude, the fruit is more rounded in shape than pears of the same varieties grown in other regions.

Russeting (conference variety): there is extremely scarce rainfall in the spring and autumn and this has a direct impact on the degree of russeting on pears of the conference variety, as well as their regularity and rustic quality.

Reference to publication of the specification:

Decision AAR/3053/2007 of 8 October 2007 approving the registration of ‘Pera de Lleida’ as a protected designation of origin.

Catalonia Official Gazette No 4987, 15 October 2007

https://www.gencat.cat/eadop/imagenes/4987/07281132.pdf

(1) OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12.