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discover the company

OUR HISTORY

Roots run deep in Salamone Azienda Agricola. Looking out across this scenic hill recalls a time when residents depended on the land for survival. In 1800, the Salamone brothers, who bred cattle and worked in the sulphur industry in Aragona, bought the manor of Carbonia from the Duke of Grazia. In the past, this scenic hill was full of almond trees. It is still possible to see the twisted almond trees at the top of the hill which were planted by my grandfather. These almond trees show give us an idea of farming tradition. This area contains two large historic properties, Masseria Salamone and Robba.

di Petru Rizzu. The Masseria Salamone which is near the company with spacious barns called “le mannare” also contains simple houses as well as a small church. This area shows how residents used to grow their own food supply to feed themselves and be self-sufficient by living far from the town. Robba di Petru Rizzu, the other historic property is at the top of the hill in order to defend this land from enemies.

 

Our recent history

Since 1975, this company has been run by women. In fact, Graziella Salamone together with her children Maria Teresa and Eugenia have contributed to managing the farmhouse. In 1991, the company worked to improve and renew the agricultural methods by planting different kinds of olive trees. In 1997, we introduced the organic agricultural production in our land and we also received an agricultural quality and control certification by ICEA. Today, all of our products are completely organic and we have 1800 trees which produce about 4,000 kilos of organic extra virgin olive oil. We also make top-quality almonds as well as grain.

addiopizzo

OUR FAMILY'S
ROOTS

past, present
and future

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THE TERRITORY

From the white limestone hills, turning around our eyes from north to south we can admire the landscape that through a succession of valleys and rugged mountains decreases gently to the sea. That image, so dear to me, of an ancient countryside suspended in time, uncontaminated, has accompanied me since childhood exhibiting the colours of all seasons.

I found there my inner self, my oasis. From the limestone amphitheatre I proudly look at the olive grove lying on the plain and shelteredfrom the south-eastern winds. High dark poplars stand out among the olive trees. A long time ago, “La chiuppera” (poplar wood) offered shelter to flocks from the scorching summer sun. The name of “Carbonia” (or “Cravunìa”), is connected with coal production.

In this area, where the almond crop was intensely practised, nearby the small town of “Santa Elsabetta”, there were many furnaces built in limestone. In the charcoal furnaces big green branches, left over from the pruning, were placed to burn slowly for hours and hours (cuviari) to obtain the necessary coal for cooking and heating.

Nearby there are many agricultural centres, each displaying unique qualities that often make them frequented by tourists.

 

Aragona - Its history is related to both the sulphur mines and the life of miners which is masterly described by Pirandello. At “Maccalube’s nature reserve” you can watch the volcanic eruption of mud clay continuously coming out from the earth due to the emission of hydrocarbons. The mining park and “Torre del Salto” in the district of “Muxarello” are also noticeable sites to see.

S. Angelo Muxaro - Is one of the most remarkable centres of the Sicilian prehistoric age with its very interesting proto-historic necropolis and with its grottoes.

 

Santa Elisabetta - In “Monte Guastanella” you can visit the ruins of a Byzantine fortress which dominated the land far and wide. On the slopes you can still find prehistoric burial caves. In less than 20 Km from there, you can reach the uncontaminated coast of “Siculiana” and “Realmonte” with its nature oriented reserve of WWF.

Agrigento is the most interesting place with its marvellous temples listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site.

 

EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

Agrigento - Festival of Almond bloom – International festival of folklore (February). Festivity of Saint Calogero (July) / Aragona - The festival of sausage (September), the festival of "Tagano" (April), the Holy Week with the ceremony called "L'incontro" / Santa Elisabetta - the festival of ricotta (January) / Raffadali - Festival of "Macco" (broad beans) (October).

THE COMPANY

Our firm, about 100 ha large, is located between the territory of Aragona and Santa Elisabetta. It is all cultivated according to the organic agricultural disciplinary and produces olives for oil, almonds of the Tuono variety and durum wheat. It is equipped with modern facilities recently renewed for tillage and mechanized harvesting. Thanks to the controls on the whole of our supply chain, our oil is standard certificated since 2007 as UNI EN ISO 22005:2008, actually from Agroqualità. Since 2010, our firm has joined the disciplinary of the 1.O.O% Italian High Quality Extra Virgin olive Oil. This disciplinary fixes analytic parameters and procedures that are more restrictive than those already in force involving the conservation and the marketing of the product. The prerequisite is the Italian origin of the product. For several years the owner, Eugenia Gino, has successfully experienced the production of the following univariety oils: “Biancolilla”, “Cerasuola”, “Nocellara del Belice” and “Giarraffa”.

OLIO CARBONIA

“Carbonia” is the extra virgin olive oil dedicated to everyone who loves good food. It is a quality oil obtained exclusively from olives grown on my own estate and in accordance with the standardized procedures for organic agriculture. The varieties of the olives are deeply linked to the territory, as they represent the prevalent cultivars planted in the Agrigento area from ancient times: Nocellara del Belice, Ogliara, Cerasuola, Biancolilla e Giarraffa. Each cultivar produces an oil with different organoleptic characteristics which I wished to emphasize, and thus in the last few years I have launched high-quality, mono-varietal oils whose aromas are reminiscent of artichokes, green tomatoes, aromatic herbs and freshly cut grass. The fruttato varies from a light, green olive flavour to one of medium intensity.

Attention to every phase of the production cycle, early harvesting, daily processing and cold-press extraction, constitute my philosophy and my production ethics. And this year my dedication was rewarded by receiving recognition from the Slow Food Foundation for my Monovarietale di Cerasuola 2015,… To be the caretaker of a territory, and a landscape, but also of a product that is a part of the history of my region, represents a challenge and, almost, an “ecological imperative” when faced with the “industrialization” of this precious and irreplaceable food. Olio “Carbonia” is available in 0.25-0.50-0.75-1.00 litre bottles, and in metal containers of 3 and 5 litres. The oil should be kept in clean, closed containers, without exposure to heat and sunlight, in order to maintain the fragrance of the product.

Why I produce BIO

To state with determination the respect for the environment and its resources/ To protect biodiversity/ To carry out a method of both production and sustainable consumption/ To resume the ancient link (unfortunately forgotten) between the culture of the land and food/ To obtain high quality products/ To make people re-discover the taste of artisan food as an alternative to industrial one/ Because I love my land/ Because I want to dream.

Why I choise 1.O.O% Italian

Because I believe in the excellence of what is made in Italy/ To help improving the diffusion and the culture of Italian High Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

  • Giarraffa Monovarietal Oil

    4th National Competition for “The Best Premium Quality UNAPROL Oil” and “Sol in 2010 in Verona

  • “The Best Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil” Biol

    16th International Award for the best extra virgin olive oil organically produced

  • Biancolilla Monovarietal Oil

    First place in the 8th National Competition “Aipo d’Argento” in Verona in 2011

  • Giarraffa and Biancolilla Oil blend

    First place in the 13th National Competition “L’Orciolo D’Oro” in Gradara in 2012

  • Biancolilla and Nocellara Oil blend

    “Gran Menzione” in the 14th National Competition “L’Orciolo D’Oro” in Gradara 2013

  • Biancolilla Monovarietal Oil

    Gold Medal in the 18th International Award for the best organically produced olive oil in Andria in 2013

  • Nocellara del Belice Monovarietal Oil

    Gold Medal in the 18th International Award for the best organically produced olive oil in Andria in 2013

  • Cerasuola Monovarietal Oil

    Published in "Extra Virgin Olive Oil Guide", Slow food edition. 2015

  • Biancolilla Monovarietal Oil

    Medium Intensity Fruity Honorable Mention in the 6th National Competition “L’Oro d’ Italia” 2015

  • Cerasuola Monovarietal Oil

    Gold Medal in the Competition “Biolnovello” in Bologna in 2015

  • BIOL 2016 - CARBONIA CORATINA

    Gold Medal Coratina Monovarietal Oil in the 21th International Prize for the best organically produced olive oil “Biol” in Lecce in 2016

  • BIOL 2016 - CARBONIA BLEND

    Gold Medal Biancolilla/Cerasuola Blend Oil in the 21th International Prize for the best organically produced olive oil “Biol” in Lecce in 2016

  • GIARRAFFA MONOVARIETAL OIL

    Published in "Extra Virgin Olive Oil Guide", Slow food edition. 2016

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