EN Official Journal of the European Union C 125/15

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

2014/C 125/06

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 (EU) No 510/2006

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

‘POMELO DE CORSE’

EC No: FR-PGI-0005-01085 – 15.01.2013

PGI ( X ) PDO ( )

1. Name

‘Pomelo de Corse’

2. Member State or Third Country

France

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 point 1 applies

‘Pomelo de Corse’ is a citrus fruit of the Star Ruby variety or of any other approved variety of the Citrus Paradisi hybrid. The consortium draws up a list of the authorised varieties. The list is updated on the basis of a protocol for the approval of new varieties that aims to ensure that the varieties authorised faithfully reproduce the characteristics of ‘Pomelo de Corse’ and meet the following selection criteria: abundant flowering in bunches, fruit without pips, red flesh and an aromatic taste. After each amendment, this list is distributed to producers, the inspection body and the competent supervisory authorities.

The authorised rootstocks are Poncirus Pomeroy, Citrange Carrizo and Citrange C 35.

The fruit has no pips and a smooth yellow skin, which may have a splash of orange-red on the surface, and pink to red or even purple flesh.

Only extra or prime quality fruit may be marketed as ‘Pomelo de Corse’ PGI.

Ten sizes may be marketed varying in diameter between a minimum of 81 mm and a maximum of 139 mm.

‘Pomelo de Corse’ is an extremely juicy fruit, with minimum 38 % juice content. It has a sweet and perfumed taste.

The fruit must comply with the following criteria:

Acidity (A) of less than 2 g of citric acid per 100 g of juice;

Sugar (E) of over or equal to 9° Brix;

A ratio (E/A) of the juice’s sugar level (E) in relation to its acidity (A) of over 6.

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 defined geographical area

The fruit must be planted, grown, harvested and sorted in the defined geographical area.

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

During the sorting phase, the fruit may be treated only with a natural wax based coating.

The fruit must be stored, sorted and processed within the defined geographical area.

‘Pomelo de Corse’ is packed in:

— crates with protective bedding. At the end of processing, a ‘Pomelo de Corse’ sticker is put on each fruit on the top layer of the crate (50 % of the fruit have stickers),

— in trays (retail sale unit) or nets.

Wrapping in a protective net must be followed by packing in crates.

Transporting the fruit in box pallets is forbidden.

‘Pomelo de Corse’ packaged in closed packaging (UVC or nets) need not be marked with stickers.

‘Pomelo de Corse’ is a fresh fruit, harvested at optimum maturity. The fruit is not subject to any phytosanitary preservation treatment after harvesting. Transporting fruit in bulk in box pallets can therefore result in crushing or bruising. Furthermore, transport in box pallets in a confined atmosphere, such as in the case of maritime transport followed by delivery by refrigerated lorry, prevents the free circulation of air around the fruit, leading to differing atmospheric conditions within the pallet that will result in the condition of the individual fruit developing differently. Prohibiting the transport of the fruit in box pallets and making packing in the geographical area compulsory protects against this risk. The physical integrity and characteristics of the ‘Pomelo de Corse’ are therefore preserved.

Furthermore, the packaging plants carry out other intrinsically related tasks (sorting, approval and labelling) which require the orchards to be close by; this processing completes the farmers’ work and avoids too much handling of the fruit in bulk. Putting the fruit into a protective net before they are put in the crates prevents any subsequent direct handling of the unprotected fruit during transport, which could result in damage.

In addition to preserving the product’s quality and characteristics, packing the fruit in the geographical area greatly facilitates the product’s traceability. When the fruit is transported in bulk, mixed cargoes of fruit of different origins are allowed. ‘Pomelo de Corse’ is grown and packaged in the geographical area either in crates or in sealed packaging.

3.7. Specific rules concerning labelling

The labelling must indicate:

— ‘Pomelo de Corse’, the product name,

— the European Union’s PGI logo.

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The geographical area is defined as follows: altitude of less than 300 metres, slopes of less than 25 % and distance from the sea of less than 15 km and includes the following municipalities:

Department of Haute-Corse (North Corsica):

Aghione, Aléria, Antisanti, Aregno, Avapessa, Barbaggio, Barrettali, Belgodère, Biguglia, Borgo, Brando, Cagnano, Calenzana, Calvi, Canale-di-Verde, Canari, Casevecchie, Castellare-di-Casinca, Cateri, Centuri, Cervione, Chiatra, Corbara, Ersa, Farinole, Feliceto, Furiani, Galéria, Ghisonaccia, Giuncaggio, L’Ile-Rousse, Linguizzetta, Loreto-di-Casinca, Lucciana, Lugo-di-Nazza, Lumio, Luri, Meria, Moncale, Monte, Montegrosso, Monticello, Morsiglia, Muro, Nonza, Novella, Occhiatana, Ogliastro, Olcani, Oletta, Olmeta-di-Capocorso, Olmeta-di-Tuda, Olmo, Palasca, Pancheraccia, Patrimonio, Penta-di-Casinca, Pietracorbara, Pietroso, Piève, Pigna, Pino, Poggio-di-Nazza, Poggio-d’Oletta, Poggio-Mezzana, Prunelli-di-Fiumorbo, Rapale, Rogliano, Saint-Florent, San-Gavino-di-Tenda, San-Giuliano, San-Martino-di-Lota, San-Nicolao, Santa-Lucia-di-Moriani, Santa-Maria-di-Lota, Santa-Maria-Poggio, Santa-Reparata-di-Balagna, Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda, Serra-di-Fiumorbo, Sisco, Solaro, Sorbo-Ocagnano, Speloncato, Taglio-Isolaccio, Talasani, Tallone, Tomino, Tox, Urtaca, Valle-di-Campoloro, Ventiseri, Venzolasca, Vescovato, Ville-di-Paraso, Ville-di-Pietrabugno.

Department of Corse-du-Sud (South Corsica):

Afa, Ajaccio, Alata, Albitreccia, Ambiegna, Appietto, Arbellara, Arro, Bastelicaccia, Belvédère-Campomoro, Bilia, Bonifacio, Calcatoggio, Cannelle, Cargèse, Casaglione, Casalabriva, Cauro, Coggia, Cognocoli-Monticchi, Conca, Coti-Chiavari, Cuttoli-Corticchiato, Eccica-Suarella, Figari, Fozzano, Giuncheto, Grossa, Grosseto-Prugna, Lecci, Monacia-d’Aullène, Ocana, Olmeto, Olmiccia, Peri, Pianottoli-Caldarello, Pietrosella, Pila-Canale, Porto-Vecchio, Propriano, San-Gavino-di-Carbini, Sant’Andréa-d’Orcino, Sari-Solenzara, Sarrola-Carcopino, Sartène, Serra-di-Ferro, Sollacaro, Sotta, Valle-di-Mezzana, Vico, Viggianello, Villanova, Zonza.

5. Link with the geographical area

5.1. Specificity of the geographical area

5.1.1. Natural factors

Soil characteristics

The soils suitable for growing citrus fruits are principally sand-clay-loam in texture and tend to be acidic. These soils rest on a granite or slate geological ground rock.

Climate characteristics

The geographical area is located on an island which influences the climate both on account of its latitude and its mountainous nature.

Corsica, which is located on the 42nd parallel north, is at the northernmost limit for citrus growing.

Contrary to other varieties which require a lot of heat, the temperatures in Corsica provide the Star Ruby variety with the necessary overall annual temperature required to express its full cycle up to the optimal maturity of the fruit and yet are sufficiently mild to prevent growth blockages on account of overly high temperatures.

The temperature is more temperate on account of the influence of the sea and the proximity of high mountain ranges and rainfall levels, like humidity, are higher than in production areas for other citrus fruits.

The protection in terms of plant health provided by the fact that the pomelo is grown on an island

The fact that Corsica is an island is essential from a phytosanitary point of view for the cultivation of ‘Pomelo de Corse’. This is because numerous serious viral or fungal diseases, such as the citrus tristeza virus or the citrus stubborn disease, are fortunately absent from Corsica.

5.1.2. Human factors

There is a long tradition of growing citrus fruits on Corsica that, according to some authors, dates back to the beginning of the Christian era.

The spread of the cultivation of ‘Pomelo de Corse’, the first planting of which dates back thirty years, is the result of the producers joining forces to promote this sector.

‘Pomelo de Corse’ now constitutes a notable production among Corsica’s other fruit crops.

This production is characterised by:

— an agricultural structure made up of small parcels,

— reduced phytosanitary treatments because the crop is grown on an island,

— the know-how of the Corsican citrus farmers, thanks to which the trees are closely monitored and any potential disease better controlled,

— the fruit being hand-picked when it has reached its optimal colour and ripeness on the tree.

5.2. Specificity of the product

The ‘Pomelo de Corse’ has a smooth, yellow skin that may have an orange-red patch and intense pink to red or even purple flesh.

The fruit acquires its colour naturally on the tree. It is harvested when fully ripe, which influences its organoleptic qualities (perfumed and sweet taste), expressed by the balance between the sugars and acidity and the absence of any bitterness. The internal quality of this fruit can be seen by the balance in the dry extract (E) between the total quantity of sugars and the total acidity (A).

From a commercial point of view, the sole criterion in international standards is the percentage of juice, which must be a minimum of 35 %. The ‘Pomelo de Corse’ has a juice content of over 38 %, which makes it particularly juicy.

Harvest is done by hand and the fruit are not treated with any phytosanitary products after harvesting, thus preserving all their freshness.

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)

‘Pomelo de Corse’ PGI is noted particularly for the outstanding quality of the fruit (sugar/acid balance, juice content, intense colour, smooth skin) and for its reputation which has become established throughout France.

The soil of the geographic area, which is different from the soil of other potential production areas in the Mediterranean, has characteristics that have enabled the development of rootstocks such as Poncirus and its hybrids (citranges) for the cultivation of the pomelo produced from the Star Ruby variety. These rootstocks give the fruit internal quality characteristics (a good balance between sugars and acids but also juice content and smooth skin) that are higher than what can be achieved with the other rootstocks generally used around the globe.

Corsica’s temperate climate allows the Star Ruby variety, which is naturally rich in lycopene, to fully express this characteristic and thus to produce a ‘Pomelo de Corse’ with a core of intense red flesh. The flesh, which is already intense in colour by September-October, tends to become yellower in winter, and then regain its colour from March-April. The skin, which is yellow in winter, also tends to take on a reddish hue when temperatures become warmer in spring.

These same temperate climatic conditions are responsible for other important characteristics of the ‘Pomelo de Corse’:

— the fruit’s juice content is much higher than other varieties,

— its smooth skin. The rind of the ‘Pomelo de Corse’ is smooth thanks to the very strong marine influence, which is expressed both in the lower summer temperatures and in an average humidity level that hardly ever descends below 70 %.

The way the pomelo is grown and also packaged in the geographical area guarantees consumers fresh produce and ensures that the product has all the qualities that make ‘Pomelo de Corse’ special and justify its reputation.

The reputation of ‘Pomelo de Corse’, which is hand-picked and not treated with any phytosanitary products after harvesting, is closely linked to the image of Corsica itself: that of an island that respects and preserves nature and the environment, and promotes its agriculture through products that stand out for their quality, and has the advantage of a long citrus-growing tradition.

‘Pomelo de Corse’ marketing and exports to the continent have soared since 2000 and have helped the product become known throughout France.

Various press articles published in the local, national, specialist or general press (‘Vegetable’, ‘FLD Magazine’, ‘FRuiTROP’ or ‘Corse Matin’ for example) on the special qualities of this product, serve to illustrate the widespread reputation that ‘Pomelo de Corse’ has achieved.

Reference to publication of the specification

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

https://www.inao.gouv.fr/fichier/CDCIGPPomelodeCorseV1.doc

(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.