EN Official Journal of the European Union C 135/29

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 135/12

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

‘ARANCIA DI RIBERA’

EC No: IT-PDO-0005-0669-07.01.2008

PGI ( ) PDO ( X )

1. Name:

‘Arancia di Ribera’

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 the product to which the name in (1) applies:

The protected designation of origin ‘Arancia di Ribera’ is reserved for products from the following varieties: Brasiliano and its clones: common Brasiliano, improved Brasiliano; Washington Navel, common Washington Navel, improved Washington Navel, Washington Navel 3033; Navelina and its clones: common Navelina, improved Navelina and Navelina ISA 315. On release for consumption, ‘Arancia di Ribera’ PDO presents the following characteristics: the fruit (hesperidium) has a minimum transverse diameter of 70 mm; minimum size 6 in the European classification; typically spherical-ellipsoidal (ovoid, compressed or elliptical) shape with an interior navel; colour of peel: uniform orange, tending to a reddish tint at the end of the winter; the pulp is also of a uniform orange colour with a fine but firm texture and no seeds; juice: orange in colour; juice yield not less than 40 %; soluble solids content between 9 and 15 degrees Brix; acidity level between 0,75 and 1,50; ratio of soluble solids to titratable organic acids not less than 8. The ‘Arancia di Ribera’ PDO is reserved for oranges in the commercial categories ‘Extra’ and ‘I’.

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:

In order to protect the PDO fruit and preserve its quality, all packaging operations must take place within the production area defined in point 4, as transport over long distances and subsequent handling could lead to the development of pathogens and contamination of the product.

The ‘Arancia di Ribera’ undergoes no chemical treatment either pre- or post-harvest, or during packaging. The absence of preservatives on the peel means that the product is more vulnerable to damage in transport or from handling.

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

The ‘Arancia di Ribera’ PDO is released for consumption in the following units:

— wood, plastic and cardboard boxes and/or trays of up to 25 kg,

— net bags of up to 5 kg,

— corrugated cardboard bins of up to 40 kg.

All packaging, net bags and bins must be sealed to prevent the contents being removed without breaking the seal.

3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling:

The labels on the packaging must bear the following in clear and legible print:

— a reference to the ‘Arancia di Ribera’ PDO and the logo, in characters larger than the other information given on the label,

— the variety of orange: Brasiliano, Washington Navel or Navelina,

— the name, business name and address of the producing and/or packaging undertaking.

The commercial category (‘Extra’ or ‘I’).

It is forbidden to add any description that is not expressly provided for. Brand names may be used, however, provided they are not laudatory in nature and are not such as to mislead the consumer, as may the name of the holding from which the product comes and other truthful and documentable indications permitted under the legislation in force. An indication may be given of the week in which the product was harvested.

The ‘Arancia di Ribera’ PDO logo consists of the following:

The words ‘Arancia di Ribera D.O.P. Denominazione Di Origine Protetta’ in Textile font, with ‘Arancia di Ribera’ in lower case apart from the capital ‘A’ in ‘Arancia’ and ‘R’ in ‘Ribera’, ‘D.O.P.’ in capital letters separated by full stops and ‘Denominazione di Origine Protetta’ all in upper case. The wording ‘Arancia di Ribera’ is covered by a sketched outline with the distinctive shape and colours of the fruit: a generous size with orange-coloured peel and broad leaves. To the left of the ‘D.O.P.’ lettering appears a stylised outline of the island of Sicily. The labels affixed to the packaging must bear, in clear and legible print, the following indications:

4. Concise definition of the geographical area:

The area in which the ‘Arancia di Ribera’ is produced extends along the banks of the Verdura, Magazzolo, Platani and Carboj rivers, taking in the following municipalities in the Province of Agrigento: Bivona, Burgio, Calamonaci, Caltabellotta, Cattolica Eraclea, Cianciana, Lucca Sicula, Menfi, Montallegro, Ribera, Sciacca, Siculiana and Villafranca Sicula, and the municipality of Chiusa Sclafani in the Province of Palermo.

5. Link with the geographical area:

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area:

The area in which the ‘Arancia di Ribera’ is cultivated is a real ‘orange oasis’ set completely apart from the region's general citrus-growing activity. The orange trees grow on the banks of the Verdura, Magazzolo, Platani and Carboj rivers. The soil, which is made up of vertisols and inceptisols, is excellent for agriculture due both to its high mineral content and its texture.

In the summer season, to make up for the lack of rain, the citrus trees in the ‘Arancia di Ribera’ area are irrigated by means of a system of channels using water from the Magazzolo, Carboj and Verdura rivers which has been collected by the Castello, Arancio and Prizzi dams.

These rivers provide an ample supply of top quality water with a balanced composition, low conductivity and no impurities.

The proximity to the sea makes for temperature and humidity conditions that are well suited to the ecophysiological needs of the fruit — very rarely is there any damage from the natural phenomena generally responsible for harming crops, such as ice or sirocco winds.

5.2. Specificity of the product:

The specificity of the ‘Arancia di Ribera’ lies in its juiciness and in the low resistance chewing of the membrane between individual segments and the vesicles, generally producing the feeling of the fruit ‘melting in the mouth’.

The ‘Arancia di Ribera’ is also characterised by a high soluble solids to acids ratio, its crisp, long-lasting taste (which make it particularly suitable for consumption as fresh fruit), its ‘mildness’ and lack of acidity. Other distinguishing factors are the strong orange colour of the peel and juice.

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 characteristics of the ‘Arancia di Ribera’ are linked to a well-established combination of natural factors (climate, terrain, water, etc.) and the professional skills of the local growers.

The soil is rich in rapidly assimilable primary minerals and has a high cationic exchange capacity (> 20 meq/100 g), which helps to boost significantly the exchangeable potassium content available for the orange trees. The high availability of potassium, favouring the transfer of sugars from the roots, leaves and branches into the fruit, together with the typically Mediterranean climate, are a key factor in raising sugar levels and improving the taste of the ‘Arancia di Ribera’.

The soil in these parts comes from alluvial sediment and is characterised by a balanced texture linked to the high clay content mitigated by the presence of sand and often shingle, which ensure that air and water can circulate freely. This allows biological processes to take place, such as the establishment of a positive ‘microflora’ encouraging the synthesis of organic substances, which in turn facilitates the take-up of nutritives and water and contributes to the juiciness of the fruit. The high quality and abundance of water from the Magazzolo, Carboj and Verdura rivers, and the absence of pollutants in the ground are ideal conditions for irrigation and the emergence of the organoleptic qualities of the product. It is these soil and climatic conditions that give the fruit its intense orange colour and above all the juiciness that makes it so suitable as a juicing orange.

Markets in Italy have been familiar with the ‘Arancia di Ribera’ since 1950. Its fame was given a major boost by the organisation of the Market Fair in 1966, which was renamed the ‘Sagra (Festival) dell’Arancia di Ribera’ in 1985. Historical documents testify to the fact that excellent oranges were already being grown in the Verdura valley in the early 1800s; these describe a rich territory with very soft water and products transported to Palermo and exported as far as America.

The main players have always been the growers, who have made full use of the perfect match between the varieties and the territory and innovated simply but effectively so that the growing of the ‘Arancia di Ribera’ has kept pace with the times and new growing requirements without going against tradition and local culture. In this respect, changes have been introduced over the years that have improved efficiency, such as irrigation through a system of low-pressure pipes (which saves water) and the use of pneumatic pruners. For many decades, farming in the Ribera area was the first point of reference for the region as a whole, and in some cases nationally, because of the growers’ professional skills and advanced techniques, and the quality of the produce, which continues to meet with high acclaim.

Reference to publication of the specification:

The full text of the product specification is available:

— at http://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 (http://www.politicheagricole.it) and clicking on ‘Prodotti di Qualità’ (on the left of the display) and then on ‘Disciplinari di Produzione all’esame dell’UE [regolamento (CE) n. 510/2006]’.

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