Sbergia
| Sbergia | |
|---|---|
 Sbergia in a peach orchard of Torregrotta | |
| Species | Prunus persica |
| Cultivar | 'Sbergiu' |
| Origin | Italy |
The Sbergia (or Smergia)[1] is a variety of nectarine peach, cultivar 'Sbergiu',[2][3] widespread in the Niceto Valley[1] – in the municipalities of Torregrotta, Monforte San Giorgio and San Pier Niceto[3][4] (Sicily) – of which it constitutes a typical and rooted product.[1][5]
Characteristics
Usually harvested between July and August,[6] it is characterized by smooth skin,[1] white flesh,[7] fragrant smell and sweet taste.[1] Furthermore, "the pedo-climatic and cultivation characteristics typical of the diffusion area give the Sbergia organoleptic peculiarities not found in productions from other locations".[4] However, the product deteriorates rapidly and the trees that bear fruit are very demanding in terms of pest control, pruning and branch support.[8] Currently, Sbergia is produced on an area estimated between 75 and 90 hectares[3][4] with an average annual global production of about 8,000 tonnes.[3] The marketing market is limited to the provinces of Messina, Catania and Reggio Calabria[3] and, due to the modest size of the cultivated areas, production cannot meet market demands.[6] The gross income ranges between 800,000 and 1.5 million euros across the entire production area.[8]
History
According to tradition, Sbergia was first introduced by the Arab populations who settled in the area between the 9th and 10th centuries as a result of experimental grafts.[9] The term Sbergia itself would derive from the Arabic al-berchiga, later transformed into the French alberges during the Angevin domination, until, after various linguistic modifications, it reached the current terminology. The cultivation of Smergia in the Niceto Valley is documented with evidence starting from the 16th century, highlighted by Antonino Venuti in his treatise De agricultura opusculum of 1516.[3]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Crisafulli.
- ↑ Maimone 1993, p. 46.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bacarella 2003, p. 47.
- 1 2 3 Maimone 1993, p. 47.
- ↑ Pandolfo 1999, p. 4.
- 1 2 Maimone 1993, p. 48.
- ↑ Casagrande n.d.
- 1 2 Marco 1998, pp. 8–9.
- ↑ Freni 2007.
Bibliography
- Venuti, Antonino. De agricultura opusculum [On agriculture, a small work]. Naples. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
- Maimone, Andrea (1993). Studio agricolo forestale del territorio comunale [Agricultural and forestry study of the municipal territory] (PDF) (Report). Comune di Torregrotta. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) - Bacarella, Antonino (2003). Agroalimentare e flussi turistici in Sicilia [Agri-food and tourist flows in Sicily] (PDF) (Report). Università degli studi di Palermo. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) - Crisafulli, Mario. Aspetti storici, etno-antropologici, e naturalistici presso le foci del Muto e del Niceto [Historical, ethno-anthropological, and naturalistic aspects at the mouths of the Muto and Niceto] (Report). Legambiente Tirreno. Archived from the original on 10 August 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) – No date given. - Pandolfo, Pippo (1999). Torregrotta [Torregrotta]. Messina: Editoriale Centonove.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) - Marco, Pippo (June 1998). "Smerge e patata primaticcia. Protagoniste dell'economia agricola torrese del secolo" [Smergie and early potatoes. Protagonists of the agricultural economy of Torregrotta in the century]. Torregrotta Notizie. Comune di Torregrotta. pp. 8–9.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) - Freni, Melo (15 September 2007). "Un aeroporto mette a rischio le "smerge" dono superstite del giardino dell'Eden" [An airport puts at risk the "smerge", surviving gift of the Garden of Eden]. Gazzetta del Sud. Società Editrice Sud.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link) - Casagrande, Giuseppe. "Tesori nascosti della Sicilia orientale" [Hidden treasures of eastern Sicily]. asa-press.com. Associazione Stampa Agroalimentare Italiana. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2012. – No date given.