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Irpinia is one of the zones of Campania, where the cultivation of chestnut groves regards a surface of about 9000 ha, with an overall production of 100,000 quintals. In particular, it is famous and exported all over the world, as a product of excellence and it is the first Italian product to receive in 1987 the DOC caption. After that the EU commission declared it an IGP product in 1992, in order to protect the authenticity of the product, which must be produced and transformed in the area of origin.

The production of the Montella Chestnut must follow a rigorous production process.

The terrains included in the area of production of the famous IGP chestnut are: Montella, Calabritto, Bagnoli Irpino, Nusco, Cassano Irpino, Volturara Irpina and the Bolifano district of the municipality of Montemarano. These fields are cultivated with chestnut trees spread over a surface of about 3000 ha with a production of 60,000 quintals.

The production is not always abundant, it suffered a sharp fall of 80% in 2012, because of a hymenopter insect the Dryocosmus kuriphilus.

The chestnut grove is cultivated between 500 and 1000 m of altitude, the number of plants per hectare vary from 80 to 180 depending on the slope of the terrain.

90% of production belongs to the “Palommina” variety, while 10% belongs to wild varieties which are named after the municipality in which they are mostly spread.

The chestnuts of Montella present a medium-small spotting (75-90 fruits/Kg) and they can be used both in their fresh, frozen, dry, shelled and in shell state.

The product has an international fame and 50% of the overall production is shipped to the USA, 25% is sold on the European market and the other 25% is distributed in the Italian market.

The municipality of Montella celebrates its local product with the festival of chestnuts, which takes place every year in November.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)