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La Bella di Cerignola S.C.A.
Società Cooperativa
In the North of Puglia, the provincial town of Cerignola is situated in a flat landscape full of olive trees. These are mainly intended for the production of olive oil. Cerignola, however, is also known for its giant Bella di Cerignola DOP La Bella della Daunia table olives. Not only in name quite the mouthful. After an accidental encounter in a local enoteca (winebar) with these enormous olives, we decided we had to visit the farm where these fantastic olives came from.
Rich history
The next day we were welcomed at the farm, once built by the Pavoncelli family. One of the largest agricultural companies in Southern Italy was located here in the 19th century. At that time the facility produced tobacco, wine, olive oil, milk, cheese and table olives. Many of the artifacts of the old company can still be seen in the small museum housed in the farm. In the middle of the 20th century, product processing on the Pavoncelli farm was suspended, but farming continued.
Union of farmers
When in 1993 several Bella di Cerignola cultivating farmers decided to unite in a cooperativa, with Stefano Pavoncelli as their president, this location was ideally suited for brining and packaging activities. Before 1993, each farmer had his own small brining facility and packing line where the Bella di Cerignola olives were pickled and packed. By working together, those activities could take place many times more efficiently and with a higher quality standard.
Hand-picked
All the cooperativa’s olives come exclusively from their members' land and are carefully picked by hand. The cooperativa also has an advisory role towards its members in order to keep the quality standards high.
Green or black?
Depending on the time of picking, the olives are different colors. If picked relatively early, the olives are green, or if picked relatively late, they are brown. After picking, the brown olives undergo a treatment in which they are oxidized and the color changes to black. The olives are subdivided into classes G, GG, GGG, with the GGG being the largest olives in the range. Mezzogiorno offers both green and black GGG olives, ideal for accompanying an aperitif.
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