Traditional Rice of the Po Plain
Definition
Within the quality rice production in the Po Plain, Consorzio di Tutela e Valorizzazione delle Varietà Tipiche del Riso Italiano e delle Sue Tradizioni has recognized six "historical" varieties that are still widespread in the area. These varieties have been chosen for their agronomic and organoleptic features, as well as for their use in the preparation of traditional Italian dishes. These varieties belong to the subspecies Orhyza sativa japonica and are: Arborio, Baldo, Balilla, Carnaroli, Sant'Andrea, and Vialone Nano. The need to safeguard the historical varieties is highlighted by the fact that in 1971, year of their maximum development, they represented the 57.86% of the national rice production, while in 1998 they represented only the 31.36% of the total national production.
Production Area:
The cultivation, processing, and packaging of the six varieties of traditional rice of the Po Plain (Arborio, Baldo, Balilla, Carnaroli, S. Andrea, Vialone Nano) must take place in the Po basin, in the Regions Piemonte, Lombardia, Emilia, and Veneto. However, the six different varieties are mainly widespread each in the following particular areas:
- Arborio: Provinces of Pavia, Ferrara, Milano, Alessandria, Vercelli, and Rovigo
- Baldo: Provinces of Pavia, Ferrara, Vercelli, Milano, Rovigo, and Alessandria
- Balilla: Provinces of Pavia, Novara, Vercelli, and Milano
- Carnaroli: Provinces of Pavia, Vercelli, Ferrara, Verona, and Novara
- S. Andrea: Provinces of Vercelli, Novara, and Pavia
- Vialone Nano: Provinces of Pavia, Verona, Mantova, Milano, Vercelli, Ferrara, and Alessandria.
The Municipalities of the tourist area "Po Confluenze Nord Ovest" of Po Torinese Park where rice is cultivated are Crescentino, Lamporo, and Livorno Ferraris.
Legislative Protection: Traditional Rice of the Po Plain (also called "Traditional Rice of the Po River Valley") is classified among the "Traditional Agri-foodstuffs of Regione Piemonte", according to art. 8 of the Legislative Decree 30th April 1998, n. 173 and the Annex to the Decisions of the Regional Council 15th April 2002 n. 46-5823.
Different rice varieties
(photo by: Andrea Miola)
Lucedio Abbey (Trino), among the ricefields of Vercelli
(photo by: Andrea Miola)
Panissa
(photo by: Andrea Miola)
