EN Official Journal of the European Union C 222/9

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 222/07

This publication confers the right to object to the amendment 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.

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

‘ΦΙΡΙΚΙ ΠΗΛΙΟΥ’ (FIRIKI PILIOU)

EC No: EL-PDO-0005-0540-27.03.2006

PDO ( X ) PGI ( )

1. Responsible department in the Member State:

Name: Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Organic Farming Directorate, Department for Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) — Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) — Traditional Specialities Guaranteed (TSG) Address: Αχαρνών 29/Acharnon 29 104 39 Αθήνα/Athens ΕΛΛAΔΑ/GREECE Tel. +30 210212815053 Fax +30 2108821241 E-mail: ax29u030@minagric.gr, ax29u029@minagric.gr

2. Group:

Name: Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Pelion and the Northern Sporades Address: Ano Lehonia Magnesias Tel. +30 2428093963 / 2428093572 Fax +30 2428094654 / 2428094379 E-mail: copilspr@otenet.gr Internet: http://www.coop-pilion.gr Composition: Producers/processors ( X ) Other ( )

3. Type of product:

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

4. Specification:

(summary of requirements under Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006)

4.1. Name:

‘Φιρίκι Πηλίου’ (Firiki Piliou)

4.2. Description:

Firiki Piliou (plural: Firikia Piliou) belongs to the species Malus domestica Borkh and to the miniature variety ‘Firiki’. Firiki Piliou is a small to medium-sized apple, with an elongated, cylindrical shape and a smaller diameter-to-length ratio than Firikia from other regions. It is yellowish-green in colour, with vivid red tones on the side exposed to the sun. It is very firm (6-8 kg/cm2) and has a high sugar content and low acidity, which give it sweet, juicy flesh and a particularly strong fragrance.

The product is put up for sale in standardised form in accordance with Regulation (ΕC) No 1221/2008.

When harvested Firikia Piliou must have the following characteristics:

Firmness: 6-8 kg/cm2

Soluble solids (%): 11,5-13 Brix

Acidity: 0,10-0,20 % citric acid

Size: 14-18 cm circumference

4.3. Geographical area:

The geographical area is the mountainous part of Pelion and it is defined with respect to altitude (the crop is grown between 300 m and 900 m), the soil and weather conditions (proximity of chestnut, beech and strawberry-tree woods, sloping, well-drained soil, slight fluctuations in temperature, high relative humidity, long hours of sunshine), the uniformity of cultivation practices (e.g. cultivation on terraces, harvesting by hand) and the tradition of growing Firikia Piliou, all of which give Firiki Piliou its specific organoleptic characteristics.

Specifically, Firiki Piliou is produced within the administrative boundaries of the following municipalities and communities:

Municipality of Portaria, Community of Makrinitsa, Municipality of Zagora, Municipality of Agria, Municipality of Artemida, Municipality of Mouresi, Municipality of Milies and Municipality of Afetes.

4.4. Proof of origin:

Firikia Piliou come from trees grown within the defined geographical area and can only be marketed as a PDO product if they have been approved by the competent bodies.

The cultivation plots are registered with the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Pelion and the Northern Sporades so that a list of plots that meet the established criteria regarding the site of planting and production can be drawn up. This information is then sent to the control bodies.

The producers declare their harvest to the packaging plant located within the defined geographical area, stating the size of the orchard and the quantity of Firikia Piliou produced.

During the initial storage phase (usually in plastic or wooden crates) the packaging plant records the producer's name and the quantity produced. This information is sent to the control bodies.

The process is completed at the packaging stage, when the control body provides numbered labels corresponding to the quantities to be packaged.

4.5. Method of production:

Cultivation comprises all the growing practices needed to maintain the vitality of the trees and keep them in good condition, namely a basal dressing of compound fertiliser, removal of weeds by weeding and applying weedkiller, irrigation using good quality water, formative pruning and pruning before cropping, which are done by hand, and thinning out of the fruit by hand. To replace unproductive trees or create new orchards, growers use either Firiki Piliou seedlings grown from seeds produced within the defined geographical area, or two-year old saplings produced by grafting Firiki Piliou seedlings grown from seeds produced within the defined geographical area onto ΜΜ106 or ΜΜ111. Firiki Piliou produces a crop every two years. It starts bearing fruit six years after planting, usually in the tenth year and grows into a big tree.

Firikia Piliou are harvested by hand, despite the rugged terrain, as Firikia always have been in Pelion. The Firikia Piliou are collected in the orchards and usually packed in plastic crates, then they are taken to be stored in refrigerated rooms in order to maintain quality (by preventing bruising and loss of firmness) and preserve authenticity.

The repackaging of Firikia Piliou outside the defined geographical area is permitted, in order to satisfy market requirements and promote the product.

4.6. Link:

The defined geographical area is at a relatively high altitude (300-900 m), has a mild climate, cool summers, slight fluctuations in temperature, high relative humidity (60,9 %), long hours of sunshine (210 hours/month) and clean air. Regarding the soil, the parent material is schist, which usually means poor soil. However, the proximity of chestnut, beech and strawberry-tree woods helps create light, fertile soil, rich in organic matter (2-3 %), sandy loam to sandy clay with a pH of 4-5 (acid). The soil is also well drained because the terrain is sloping, which is why the Firikia are grown mainly on terraces.

It is because the Firikia are grown on terraces that tractors and other agricultural machinery cannot be used, so all the work is done by hand. In order to obtain the desired quality the producers, drawing on their long experience and their knowledge of the capacity of each tree, very carefully thin out the fruit by hand so that each tree will yield the right amount. Pruning is also done by hand, to avoid damaging the trees with air shears. Finally, the Firikia are harvested with great care, to ensure that they do not get bruised or lose their stalks, so they remain intact and will keep better.

To replace unproductive trees or create new orchards the growers use Firikia Piliou seedlings that they grow themselves from seeds produced with the defined geographical area.

The following characteristics distinguish Firiki Piliou from Firikia grown in other regions:

Size: it is smaller and more elongated, with a smaller diameter-to-length ratio. Because of its size it is not easily bruised or damaged by the sun. Its small size is a feature of the specific Firiki ecotype that has been grown in the region for a long time, extensive exposure to the sun, occasional, light irrigation, well-drained soil and the expert thinning out of the fruit, which is done by hand.

Firmness: the flesh is firmer (6-8 kg/cm2) and crisper and the skin smooth and waxy. The firmness of the flesh is due to the small size of the fruit, occasional, light irrigation and the high sugar content.

Colour: it is a more vivid red because, owing to the sloping terrain and traditional thinning out of the fruit, it is more exposed to the sun.

Sweetness and fragrance: it is sweeter, with more flavour and a juicy taste. The sweetness and strong fragrance result from a combination of natural and human factors specific to the region. First, the long hours of sunshine and the traditional thinning out of the fruit by hand increase exposure to the sun and photosynthesis, which produces a high concentration of carbohydrates and soluble sugar solids. In addition, in the defined geographical area temperatures are low and humidity is high during the evening in September, when the fruit ripens; this minimises transpiration and loss of carbohydrates.

These distinctive features of Firiki Piliou, namely its small, elongated shape, vivid red colour, hard, crisp flesh, sweet taste and strong fragrance, distinguish it from the Firikia of other regions and this is why it is sold at a higher price and is more sought after on the market.

History

The Firiki apple variety is said to come from the Black Sea region. Its Latin name is Malus domestica Borkh and it has been grown in the mountains and foothills of Pelion by experienced growers since the XVIIIth century.

In 1889, in his book Prometheus Zosimas Esfigmenitis tells us that Drakia and Aï Lavrentis had 32 varieties of apple, including Firikia known as ‘Ferikia’, which were very sought after in the markets of Athens and Thessaloniki.

In The‘Great’Aï-Giorgis of Pelion (1994) Kostas Liapis mentions that around 8 000 Firiki trees were planted in Agios Georgios and they started to bear fruit around 1915. The same author mentions Pelion's famous Firikia in his book Traditional Food and Cookery of Pelion.

In Pouri, Pelion’s cool mountain village, Nikos Diamantakos writes that until 1935 Firikia were the main variety of apple grown in Pouri and Zagora.

Lastly, writing about the Zagora Agricultural Cooperative in Pelion in the In Volos magazine (number 10, 2003), Dionisos Valassas, drawing on information provided by the Cooperative, mentions that in 1938 there were 222 members on the members’ register.

Besides marketing potatoes and hazelnuts, the Cooperative also sold a variety of ‘Renedes’ apple, then known as ‘Koliabaseïka’ after a person named Koliabasi who had been the first to grow them. They also sold Firiki apples, considered at the time to be the ‘king of apples’.

The above attests without doubt to the origin, reputation and widespread distribution of Firiki Piliou, at least on the national market, for a long time.

4.7. Inspection body:

Name: Magnesia Prefectural Authority, Directorate for Rural Development Address: Διοικητήριο/Diikitirio 380 01 Βόλος/Volos ΕΛΛAΔΑ/GREECE Tel. +30 2421071345 Fax +30 2421070970 E-mail: u11614@minagric.gr Internet: http://www.magnesia.gr Name: Οrganisation for the Certification and Supervision of Agricultural Products (OPEGEP) — Agrocert Address: Patision & Androu 1 112 57 Αθήνα/Αthens ΕΛΛΑΔΑ/GREECE Tel. +30 2108231277 Fax +30 2108231438 E-mail: agrocert@otenet.gr Internet: http://www.agrocert.gr

4.8. Labelling:

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