Description
The Mela Val di Non PDO refers to the fresh apple belonging to the species Malus communis Lam., deriving from the Golden Delicious, Renetta Canada and Red Delicious varieties.
Production Area
The production area of Mela Val di Non PDO is within parts of the autonomous Province of Trento.
Production Method
Two growing systems are used: “pieno vento” and “tall spindle”. Traditional production techniques involve turfing the soil between the rows during the trees’ productive cycle of, and mowing the grass in the spring and summer months. Pruning must be done annually by hand, during the tree’s resting period, and must guarantee the right balance between the fruit buds and the strength of the branches. The crop load is also controlled through the appropriate management of pruning and thinning. Irrigation is indispensable for ensuring a quality product and is carried out when needed between March and October. The fruit are picked exclusively by hand in August, September and October, right up until the first fortnight of November, depending on the ripening period of the different varieties.
Appearance and Flavour
The Golden Delicious and Red Delicious varieties of Mela Val di Non PDO have an elongated truncated-cone shape, and the Renetta Canada variety has a truncated-cone or flattened shape. The Golden Delicious is green to yellow in colour, at times with a pinkish band; the pulp is crunchy and juicy with a sweet-sour flavour. The Red Delicious is red with a green-yellow background; the pulp has a pasty texture and a mostly sweetish flavour. The Renetta Canada is greenish-yellow in colour, with ridged skin and, depending on the season, its pulp ranges from crunchy and sour to pasty and sweet.
History
The fruit growing tradition in Trentino-Alto Adige is extremely old, as evidenced by the topography (the names of the cities of Malè and Malosco derive from the Latin Maletum, which means “place of apples”) and several authoritative historical sources. The apples were known of as far as the capital of the Habsburg Empire, as shown by a letter from 1739, in which a noble family is asked to send a crate of pomi rosmarini (rosemary apples) to Vienna, which were already famous for their excellent quality. There are numerous sources dating back to the beginning of the 1800s, and in the second half of the century apple growers received many prizes and recognitions for the quality of the fruit they took to the international expos of the time.
Gastronomy
Mela Val di Non PDO should be kept at a low temperature. However, it is best to leave it at room temperature for four to five days before eating it. The apple is a very versatile product, and is considered a fruit par excellence. It is used in numerous tasty recipes (the Golden Delicious variety, in particular), with delicious combinations: from starters to salads, combined with pork and game, and even drinks. And of course apple – especially the Renetta – is the main ingredient in recipes such as apple cake, strudel and fritters.
Marketing
The product is marketed as Mela Val di Non PDO, in the following varieties: Golden Delicious, Renetta Canada and Red Delicious, in the Extra and First categories, with a minimum size of 65 mm. Mela Val di Non PDO is sold loose or packed in suitable materials with clear labelling.
Distinctive Features
Thanks to the morphological characteristics of the area where Mela Val di Non PDO is grown, with high quantities of magnesium that give the fruit elevated organoleptic qualities, it is ideal for its cultivation.
