Protected geographical indication melon fruit

The Melon is a culinary fruit which belongs to the species Cucumis melo of the plant family Cucurbitaceae. In the Bologna's plain area the melons (as well as the traditional Watermelons from San Matteo della Decima) are grown in the fertile Samoggia Plain and owe their special taste to the land potassium-rich.

The Igp melon is produced in the version with smooth skin and with net-like (or reticulated) skin covering. The varieties used are related to the following types of reference: Harper (net-like skinned type without notch of the wafer), Supermarket (net-like skinned type with notch of the wafer), Honey Moon (smooth type). The marketing period is from late May to late October.

The registration request for the recognition of the Igp is ongoing for Melon grown in the province of Bologna in the municipalities of Crevalcore, Galliera and San Giovanni in Persiceto as well as in the municipalities of the province of Ferrara (Bondeno, Cento e Sant’Agostino), Modena (Concordia sulla Secchia, Mirandola e San Felice sul Panaro), Mantova and Cremona.

By ministerial decree on July 19, 2011 was granted a transitional national protection to the name "Melone mantovano Igp" and was sent the request to the European Commission for the registration as a Protected geographical indication (IGP or PGI).

You can taste the sweet melons and watermelons on the occasion of the Cucombra - Festival of Melon and Watermelon, which was born in 1993 in order to promote local traditional products. It takes place in San Matteo della Decima every year at the beginning of July.