MENFI SPINY ARTICHOKE

Artichokes are grown in Sicily in the provinces of Palermo, Catania and Agrigento, but the countryside around Menfi is the best suited to the crop. In particular, the Spiny Artichoke grows in Menfi. It is known since 1800 and it is a medium-sized artichoke. Certainly thorns are an obstacle for the commerce, but it has also very good qualities. For example it is aromatic, crunchy and delicate; it is very sturdy to the preservation in oil and it also resists to the brazier’s fire. It grows with not much water and it is rarely fertilized with manure. Menfi Spiny Artichoke has also the Slow Food recognition to protect, enhance and encourage this product that is disappearing from the market for many reasons. In 2011 the agronomist Calogero Romano founded the «Spiny Artichoke’s productors Association» to promote the fresh product and its derivatives. Some young farmers continued to take care of a good and clean cultivation that is resisting illnesses. Yet the Association wants to encourage the sale of this vegetable all around Italy. On february 21 2014 the Spiny Artichoke was the protagonist of one of the episodes of Geo&Geo, a famous tv programme that talks about nature and environment. The anchorwoman Sveva Sagramola with Calogero Romano increased this vegetable’s world talking about recipes, comments and analysis about the Spiny Artychoke and Sicily, a valid storefront that uncased, once again, the local agricultural excellences.