Description
The Volailles des Landes PGI include free-range winged animals of different breeds like free-range quails; guinea hens and chicken capons; Christmas turkeys and yellow guinea hens; free-range white pullets; free-range, white, black and yellow, bareneck chickens.
Production Area
The production area of Volailles des Landes PGI is located in the department of Landes and the neighbouring cantons of Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne in the region of Aquitaine.
Production Method
The production of Volailles des Landes PGI is closely linked to the beginning of maize cultivations, cereal which is the fundamental ingredient of the additional diet of free-raised winged animals. The farmers of winged animals of Landes often develop also maize cultivations. The winged animals of Landes have always taken advantage from the almost infinite open areas, above all in the forest of Landes de Gascogne. The climate, which has mild winters and ideal summers, favours this type of breeding. The shelters are often scattered in the open areas of breeding, they are small-sized and equipped with watering places.
Appearance and Flavour
Volailles des Landes PGI are characterised by compact fowl and higher organoleptic features.
History
The farm production of Volailles des Landes PGI in the region of Landes has historic origin and is linked to breeding brought by Spaniards in the 8th century. Later this production has largely developed, above all in the 18th and 19th century. The winged animal market of Daz was highly appreciated at the beginning of the 20th century. The start of maize cultivation in the region has strengthened the development of farm, winged animal breeding.
Gastronomy
The Volailles des Landes PGI can be conserved in many ways: fresh, in slices and filleted or frozen. At the same time, there are a lot of recipes based on Volailles de Landes PGI, famous due to the compactness of fowls and their exquisite taste. With the different species of Volailles des Landes PGI it is possible to make tasteful and elaborated second courses, aromatized and cooked with precious wines, which are often accompanied with sauces and creams in line with the French tradition and vegetable and with potato trimmings.
Marketing
The Volailles des Landes PGI include different types of products, depending on the specific varieties of poultry of the denomination which are individually written on the package. Amongst these, there are chapon fermier (also jaune and de pintade), poularde fermière, poulet fermier élevé en liberté (jaune, jaune cou-nu, noir and blanc), caille (also jaune) (farm capon, also yellow and farm guinea hen; farm pullets; free-range farm chicken, yellow, bare-neck yellow, black and white; quail, also yellow). The product is sold fresh, whole or without head, or in slices, packed in suitable trays with protected atmosphere to guarantee a longer conservation and keep unaltered the organoleptic features of fowl.
Distinctive Features
Thanks to the specific selection of the breed, the slaughtering age, the diet rich of maize, which is eaten directly from the plants, and the specific breeding method, the fowls of Volailles des Landes PGI raised in this area are peculiar and much appreciated. The climatic characteristics of the region of Landes, above all due to the forests which act as a buffer in the weather changes and the wind strength, are the ideal to free raise winged animals.
