Variegated Radicchio from Castelfranco Veneto PGI

PGI - Protected Geographical Indication

Variegated Radicchio from Castelfranco Veneto PGI was born from a 19th century cross between Treviso Radicchio and endive.
Its cultivation was particularly successful and considerably widespread already in the early latest century.
Known and appreciated not only in Veneto, this Radicchio PGI has acquired a considerable economic importance in its production area. The annual quantities produced are of approximately 200 tons, 5% of which is bound for exports. It is used both raw in salads and cooked as the main ingredient of many dishes.
Variegated Radicchio from Castelfranco Veneto has a head with a diameter of at least 15 cm. Starting from the head base, there is a first circle of flat leaves, a second circle of raised leaves, a third circle of more raised leaves, and so on until you reach the heart. The maximum length of the tap-root is 4 cm. The leaves are cream-white with light violet-bright red streaks evenly distributed all over the plant. The heads have a minimum weight of 100g and a diameter of 15cm. The leaves have a very delicate sweet or rather bitter, but pleasant, taste.

The production area of Variegated Radicchio from Castelfranco Veneto involves, in the Provinces of Treviso, Padova, and Venice, the areas of the below-mentioned Municipalities:

• Province of Treviso: Breda di Piave, Carbonera, Casale sul Sile, Casier, Castelfranco Veneto, Castello di Godego, Istrana, Loria, Maserada, Mogliano Veneto, Morgano, Paese, Ponzano V., Preganziol, Quinto di Treviso, Resana, Riese Pio X°, San Biaggio di Callalta, Silea, Spresiano, Tevignano, Treviso, Vedelago, Villorba, Zero Branco.
• Province of Padova: Albignasego, Battaglia Terme, Borgoricco, Camposampiero, Cartura, Casalserugo, Conselve, Due Carrare, Loreggia, Masera di Padova, Massanzago, Monselice, Montagnana, Montegrotto Terme, Pernumia, Piombino Dese, Ponte S. Nicolò, San Pietro Viminario, Trebaseleghe.
• Province of Venice: Martellago, Mira, Mirano, Noale, Salzano, Santa Maria di Sala, Scorzè, Spinea.

A top-quality production with good organoleptic features is guaranteed by the use of traditional methods, like crop rotation only after 24 hours with prohibition of rotation with other Compositae, the use of manuring within the established limits, and no more than 5/7 plants per square meter.
A relative of Red Radicchio from Treviso PGI, Variegated Radicchio from Castelfranco Veneto PGI is produced in 25 Municipalities of the Province of Treviso, 19 of the Province of Padova, and 8 of the Province of Venice. It obtained the PGI label in 1996.

Producers

Consorzio tutela Radicchio Rosso di Treviso e Variegato di Castelfranco

Others