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“Mela Val di Non” (“Apple from Val di Non”) is a brand based on the traditional cultivation of that very Trentino valley, which today appears as a vast orchard encompassed by the Brenta Dolomites and the Maddalene mountain range. It’s a wondrous place especially during the flowering period, in April, and in autumn (at the end of the harvesting activities), when the surrounding woods are blessed by thousands of shades of yellow, red and orange.

The locally cultivated apple varieties are called “Golden”, “Renetta” and “Red”.
The “Golden” variety has a yellow or green colour, is crunchy, juicy and features a slightly sour taste. The “Red” apple has a fleshy consistency and a decidedly sweet flavour. Finally, the “Renetta” variety appears yellow or green, with crunchy or pasty pulp and a sour or sweet flavour, depending on when it is consumed.

Harvesting takes place manually between August and November, then the apples are divided according to weight and quality, and eventually marketed.

The apples from Val di Non can be eaten plain, baked in the oven, or even as part of delicious desserts. They’re also included in several pork dishes.

Every year, on the second weekend of October, a great apple festival takes place in the valley – it’s called “Pomaria”. Visitors can pick their apples straight from the plants, learn how to prepare the classic “strudel”, and join many exciting activities for adults and children.

In the hamlet of Fondo, visitors can also access the Rio Sass Canyon: a gorge carved by the stream that runs across the village, equipped with walkways and stairways.
In Spormaggiore, there’s the Bear Visitor Centre: a protected path that can get you up close and personal with brown bears. There is also the Bear House, a multimedia museum focused on the life and the habits of those fascinating animals.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)