EN Official Journal of the European Union C 388/9

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

(2017/C 388/08)

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

‘BEELITZER SPARGEL’

EU No: PGI-DE-02167 — 9.2.2016

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

1. Name

‘Beelitzer Spargel’

2. Member State or Third Country

Germany

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 under point 1 applies

The name ‘Beelitzer Spargel’ refers to the edible stalk of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis). The shrubs are perennial. There is a distinction between the production of white and green asparagus. Depending on its colour, the white asparagus is subdivided into white and violet categories. Ripened by the sun, the green asparagus has a typical green colour. All types of asparagus can be cultivated, with no exceptions. The asparagus cultivated in the identified geographical area (see specifications and map under point 4) all comes under the designation ‘Beelitzer Spargel’.

Depending on the variety, the base of the stem, the scales and the tip may have a violet tinge. Through regular harvesting, which generally takes place once or twice a day, and prompt processing, the product remains fresh until it reaches the consumer. White asparagus is cut in the mound; green asparagus above ground. ‘Beelitzer Spargel’ is marketed as stems with a length of 16 to 24 cm and as short lengths and tips. ‘Short lengths’ and ‘tips’ do not meet the minimum length requirement of 16 cm. The tips always have an asparagus tip on one end, whereas the short lengths may not have a tip on either end.

The thickness of ‘Beelitzer Spargel’ is measured in millimetres. The minimum thickness is 8 mm. Usually, the asparagus is sorted into 4 mm ranges: 8-12 mm, 12-16 mm, 16-20 mm, 20-24 mm, 24-28 mm, 28 mm+. However, customer requirements may necessitate departures from the sorting scale. For example, the sorting boundaries may be raised from 12 to 14 mm and from 16 to 18 mm.

There is no margin of tolerance.

The stalks are offered for sale peeled and unpeeled. Peeling can be done mechanically or by hand. The minimum requirements set out in the UNECE standard for ‘Beelitzer Spargel’ must be fulfilled. In particular, this includes the following characteristics:

— whole,

— sound (produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded),

— clean; practically free of any visible foreign matter,

— a fresh smell and appearance,

— practically free of parasites and parasite damage,

— practically free from bruises,

— free of abnormal external moisture, i.e. appropriately ‘dried off’ if it has been washed or cooled with cold water,

— free of any foreign smell and/or taste.

A slight curving of the stalk is permitted. The tip of the asparagus must be mainly closed.

3.3. Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

—

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

Without exception, ‘Beelitzer Spargel’ is cultivated in the identified geographical area. This applies to the production and harvesting in the fields, as well as steps in preparation such as sorting, bundling and, where applicable, peeling. The short journey thus achieved from field to preparation and the consequent limit on the distance and duration of transport help to ensure freshness.

3.5. Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

Preparation and packaging take place, like production and harvesting, in the identified geographical area.

The freshness of the product can thus be preserved by avoiding long journey times. Avoiding long journeys also has a decisive effect on preserving quality, as it guarantees the cool chain and prevents avoidable breakages of stalks.

3.6. Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

The product is labelled with the term ‘Beelitzer Spargel’. When offered for sale, ‘Beelitzer Spargel’ may also be designated with the following logo:

4. Concise definition of the geographical area

The territory to which the designation ‘Beelitzer Spargel’ applies takes in the Beelitzer Sander in the Potsdam-Mittelmark rural district, and parts of the Teltow-Fläming rural district. The size of the area arises from the agricultural necessity to rotate this perennial crop.

The boundaries of the geographical area are as follows:

To the east: the inter-urban road from Saarmund to Tremsdorf (starting from the A10), Schiaß (up to the junction with the L 793), Blankensee, Schönhagen, Ahrensdorf, Märtensmühle, Liebätz, Ruhlsdorf up to the junction with the B101.

To the south: the inter-urban road from the Woltersdorf settlement, along the B101 up to the junction with the inter-urban road from Neu Frankenfelde to Berkenbrück, on to Berkenbrück, Gottsdorf, Kemnitz to Buchholz and along the B2 main road until the fork to Brachwitz, and from this fork to Brachwitz, Schlalach and Linthe.

To the west: the inter-urban road from Linthe to Brück, Damelang, Cammer to Golzow and, along the B102 main road, from Golzow to the A2 motorway.

To the north: the A2 motorway (from the Brandenburg junction to the Werder three-leg interchange) and the A10 motorway (from the Werder three-leg interchange to the motorway bridge over the inter-urban road from Saarmund to Tremsdorf).

5. Link with the geographical area

(1) The taste and quality of ‘Beelitzer Spargel’ arise from the climatic and soil conditions typical for the area. The Beelitz production area has a continental climate characterised by limited precipitation, intensive sunshine and wide variations in temperature. Temperatures can vary within a short period from night frosts to well above 25 °C. Stable continental high pressure areas over Poland typify local conditions in the spring. The average annual temperature is 8,5 °C and average rainfall is 530 mm. The soil is light, sandy and deep, with a high level of air permeability. Specifically, the following soil types are typical: Sand (S) and slightly loamy sand (S1). The favourable cultivation conditions and the rapid growth facilitated by the sandy soil and continental climate give rise to a tender product characterised by a balanced taste free of excessive bitterness and undesirable flavours. The slower an asparagus stem grows, the more time is available for undesirable bitter substances to form and for substances to accumulate that promote woodiness. The fast growth thanks to local conditions significantly minimises these characteristics. It also significantly curbs the development of excessive physiological russeting. These facts — the tender stalks, the low bitterness and the low woodiness — are the reasons for its popularity among consumers. The cause of this rapid growth lies firstly in the light, sandy soil of the Beelitzer Sander, which warms up very quickly, and secondly in the very sunny spring weather influenced by eastern Europe’s continental climate. This period is decisive for rapid growth at harvest time. The colder winter temperatures, which keep the annual average temperature down, also have a positive influence on the dormancy of the asparagus and promote vigorous budding. The taste of ‘Beelitzer Spargel’ is characterised by the typically strong asparagus aroma. Thanks to the light, sandy soil and the daily harvest, ‘Beelitzer Spargel’ has particularly tender stalks. The soil that warms up quickly acts together with the strong sun to promote rapid growth and thus favours that tenderness. Rapid growth also helps keep the stalks straight. The cultivation of ‘Beelitzer Spargel’ on the fields of the Beelitzer Sander gives the asparagus its unrivalled original and pleasant taste. In addition, specialised, high-tech production methods and the proximity of the production and preparation sites ensure that quality is cultivated and maintained. The long tradition of cultivation in this region has led to an enormous amount of expertise being accumulated, which has been and continues to be passed down through the generations and is reflected in the high standard of production.

(2) ‘Beelitzer Spargel’ has a long-standing tradition. This was founded by the master glazier and smallholder Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Hermann, who in 1861 became the first person to plant whole fields of asparagus in Beelitz. The first ‘Beelitzer Spargel’ was sold in large quantities at the town’s market from 1870 onwards. An appeal to establish an asparagus marketing cooperative was published on 4 April 1908 in the local newspaper, the Beelitzer Zeitung, with the aim of counteracting the downward pressure on prices exerted by Berlin-based wholesalers and processors by doing its own sales and marketing for the asparagus. On 24 October 1910, an independent asparagus, fruit and horticulture association was established in Beelitz. In 1910, around 600 asparagus growers were managing around 1 000 acres (250 ha) of asparagus-growing land in the Beelitz area. Every day at 6 p.m., the asparagus was collected from the distribution point in Beelitz by lorries from the Berlin central market and taken to its destination. The long-standing tradition and importance of asparagus cultivation in Beelitz is also attested by articles in the Beelitzer Zeitung from 1910 and 1912. Amongst other things, joint participation in a vegetable exhibition in Berlin was being discussed as long ago as that. From 1927, the Beelitz area’s 450 ha made it the largest asparagus cultivation area in the then Zauch-Belzig district. This accounted for around 10 % of the total in Germany. From 1990 onwards, it was very quickly possible once again to seize on the traditional high regard in which Beelitz asparagus was held, which is justified by the particularly high quality of the product, which in turn is positively influenced by the favourable cultivation conditions. Since 1990, the cultivation area has continued to grow and now stands at over 1 500 ha, making it the largest single asparagus-growing area in Brandenburg. Asparagus is now Brandenburg’s most important vegetable crop. The season launch that takes place there every year makes the growing area a shop window for Brandenburg’s vegetable growing and has established it as a leader in cultivation, marketing and commercialisation. Moreover, the town of Beelitz has for many years borne the name of its famous product and describes itself as the ‘asparagus town of Beelitz’. The many tourist attractions promote the high regard in which customers hold ‘Beelitzer Spargel’. Farm restaurants and the Beelitz asparagus route draw many tourists to the area. The Beelitz asparagus museum is very popular. Local restaurants, too, put asparagus at the heart of their menus during the season. The annual asparagus festival is a high point in the calendar of the town of Beelitz. It showcases fresh ‘Beelitzer Spargel’ and, thanks to its popularity with customers, it results in a huge boost to sales. Since 1997, a Beelitz asparagus queen has been crowned every year and represents the noble produce from the Beelitz growing area at the many events that take place at the launch of the season and the many farm festivals that take place during it.

Reference to publication of the product specification

(second subparagraph of Article 6(1) of the Regulation)

https://register.dpma.de/DPMAregister/geo/detail.pdfdownload/41617

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