Optimum Typical products

In 1957, Guido Piovene, in his "Journey in Italy", wrote: "Italy, with its landscape, is the mirror of the world; Marche is the mirror of Italy. Here we have the most accomplished example of a gently sloping landscape that is moderate but not lacking in character, well balanced, as if Man himself had conceived it. No other land is less Gothic or Baroque…there is nothing left to say." He was right: there is nothing left to say. Balance and harmony are inborn qualities in several of the factories we have considered in this project. Many firms produce high-quality products thanks to their policy of preservation of ancient methods and techniques, which are both a precious heritage and a guarantee of typicality. But we must be careful with the word "typical". This used and abused term often describes only the most widespread or largely consumed products, and also something produced secretly, as if mystery and secret guaranteed typicality.

To define the word "typical" we have to look at the French and their concept of "terroir", which does not mean simply "territory", but also morphology, population, weather, habits, fashion and well-established techniques of a certain area. All the physical and cultural conditions, put together, make a territory whose inhabitants are careful in preserving its old customs and habits. These are necessary requirements to create a truly typical product, which is exclusively a peculiar feature of a territory: it's impossible to export it or produce it elsewhere.

The typically hilly landscape of Piceno's hindered the farmers from setting intensive or monotype cultivations, thus favouring a great variety of food products instead, and a rather slow process of urbanization somehow preserved the rural habits of people. The industrialization has been quite limited and did not alter the genuine cultural essence of Marche. Traditional techniques and habits have been protected, typical products have been saved, and local gastronomy has been preserved with its solid identity, avoiding dangerous last-minute trends and the snares of fashion. Far away from large-scale industry and hypertrophic commercial distribution, small farms stand out as a precious heritage which must be preserved and their activity enhanced: their highest-quality products are unfortunately mixed to the others in a market ruled by a massive sales logic and by a crafty, aggressive marketing policy.

It is worth mentioning some of these products to have a clearer vision of the rich and various items offered by local producers: there are salami, sheep and cow milk cheeses, truffles from the Sibillini Mountains, extra-virgin olive oil, fruit and vegetables from our valleys. Some of these products are real gastronomic masterpieces, like the "Ciauscolo", a soft spreadable salami made with the tastiest pork meat, which is a proof of the farmer's ability to use the whole swine, without throwing anything away. This is a sign of that thriftiness for which Marche's people are well known and which our regional neighbours have always considered a fault making jokes of it, but we believe is still a virtue.

Businesses that participated

• Azienda Agricola Catalini Sergio
• Azienda Agricola Scibè Doriano
• Cooperativa Agricola La Campana S.C.A.R.L.
• Macelleria Corona Carni S.a.s. di Strada e Mariani
• La Golosa di Maurizio Curi
• Otello Muccichini
• Salumificio Passamonti dei F.lli Passamonti
• Azienda Agricola Fontegranne
• Azienda Agricola "Il Colle Verde"
• RITORNO ALLA TERRA Soc. Coop. A R. L.