How Two Women From Sermoneta Italy Marketed The Italian Lemon

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12 minutes ago
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Italian lemons growing in Italy Photo Source: Dirt and Noise

Sermoneta Italy is a hilly town in central Italy and the province of Latina. Angela Concu a farmer and producer says resident at one time built annexes with solid walls and thatched roofs. When the government added additional taxes for buildings residents rebelled by tearing down the buildings and leaving the walls. They evaded the taxes by creating gardens and cultivating local plants.

Cobbled and Walled Street of Sermoneta Photo Source: Commons Wikimedia

Angela Concu cultivated and grew Italian lemons called trombolotto a cross between a bitter orange and citron. The lemon is larger than the typical lemons found in the supermarket The fruit due to marketing became the center of culture and identity in the town of Sermoneta.

Chef Cristina Bowerman cooking in restaurant :Photo Source: Innaturrale

Chef Cristina Bowerman a well know chef started a program locally called Adopt A Farmer. She invited Angela to be one of the fifteen farmers that she supports by purchasing local products they provide with a steady income stream. This helps her business because she creates unique recipes and uses the products they create for customers.

Cristina a well know chef in Italy known for her restaurant the Glass Hostaria researched local farmers selecting products and agreeing to purchase them during the year. She uses these products to incorporate into her seasonal menus. Angela Concu discovered an old recipe using trombolotto that was once used to preserve meat and fish due to lack of refrigeration.

Knight Templar Photo Source: Flicker/One Lucky Guy

This recipe dates back to medieval time during the time of the Knights Templar. Angela duplicated the recipe grinding the lemons and Itrana olives mixed with extra virgin olive . They added 14 herbs to the recipe, porcini mushrooms, garlic, shallots, oregano, chili pepper, and salt. It is infused 30 to 45 days before it is bottled.

After the infused oil is bottled. It is used as a flavor enhancer, and to correct acidity. This infused oil is used in pasta dishes, meat, poultry, vegetable, fruits, desserts. The oil is used to create different products that are sold.

Chef Cristina Bowerman believes it is important for chefs to establish direct relationships with farmers. Her restaurant Glass Hostaria offers a modern approach to Italian food. She experiments with local produce and ingredients like the trombolotto lemon.

Outdoor Restaurant in Sermoneta Italy Photo Source: Flicker/One Lucky Guy

The lemon is marketed through the recipes created and used in local restaurants. The town of Sermoneta has festivals and special events to promote the use of the lemon in cooking. They have food festivals, farm markets, special events at restaurants and tours of the gardens where lemons are grown. Chefs offer special items or the menu or tasting events.

The lemons and products are legally protected and only sold through licensed vendors from the region. Consumers can buy products online and by visiting the town of Sermoneta Italy.

On the cobblestone street of Sermoneta during the growing season the lemons give off a pleasant smell from the private gardens. Due to the marketing of the two women the trombolotto lemon has become a prized citrus fruit around the world.