Description
The Foin de Crau PDO is hay from grounds that are characterised by a particular and rich flora. The obligatory and predominant species are Tall oat-grass, Cock's foot, Red clover, and Creeping clover, while the forbidden species are rush, reed, horsetail, and autumn crocus. Production area History
Production Area
The production area of Foin de Crau PDO is located in 11 municipal areas in the department of Bouchesdu-Rhône, in the Provence-Alpes-Azur region.
Production Method
Throughout the year, three different mowing operations of Foin de Crau PDO are achieved. Each mowing has a typical flora that is most suitable for the nutrition of specific farm animals. The first mowing takes place in May, it is composed of springtime herbs, and it is rich in gramineous plants; the second one takes place in July, and is perfectly suitable for the nutrition of cows and sheep, because it heightens milk production while maintaining physical condition constant. The third mowing in September is rich in leguminous plants and long leaves. The hay is baled and tied up with a typical white and red string. It can be sold on the field or stored in warehouses.
Appearance and Flavour
Foin de Crau PDO is a product containing large amounts of mineral elements, such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulphur, while it lacks raw cellulose, a characteristic that allows better digestion. It is ideal for the performance and health of the animals.
History
In the 16th century, Adam de Craponne ventured into the construction of a channel, with the objective of bringing the silt-rich waters of the river La Durance to Salon-de-Provence, Eyguières, Istres and Arles. The realisation of this channel allowed the irrigation of a large part of the Crau, which formerly was very dry.Over time, the watered grounds became fabulous meadows, which today produce up to 10,000 kg of dry hay per hectare, making the production of Foin de Crau PDO a relevant sector in this part of France. These meadows offer three mowing operations of very valuable aromatic hay and are used in the winter for the grazing of sheep.
Gastronomy
The Foin de Crau PDO has the same quantity of dry material - approximately 91% - in all three mowing operations and is also very rich in minerals. The flora of the first mowing is used for the feeding of horses and cattle. The second one has nutritional properties that favour milk production, and is thus ideal for the feeding of cows and sheep. The third mowing in September is rich in leguminous plants and long leaves, giving excellent results as nutrition for sheep and goats, increasing and flavouring their milk production.
Marketing
The product is sold as Foin de Crau PDO. It is sold in typical bales tied with a white and red string, making them easily recognisable.
Distinctive Features
The Mediterranean climate and the edaphoclimatic characteristics of the Crau plain, as well as the overall grounds in which the Foin de Crau PDO is cultivated, lend the product the peculiarities responsible for its excellent quality. This region has rare yet abundant precipitations, the rainier periods are from September to October and from March to April, with temperatures that are mild in the winter and warm in the summer. The clouds are moved away quickly by the vehemence of the Mistral wind.This phenomenon entails long periods of exposure to the sun, along with fast evaporation
