Division 5.1 Specificity of the geographical area

‘Cipolla Rossa di Tropea Calabria’ is cultivated on sandy or partly sandy land of average composition containing open clay or silt-laden soils, located along the coastal line or running alongside rivers and streams. Despite their gravelly texture, these soils of alluvial origin do not constrict the development and growth of the bulbs. Coastal land is well-suited for growing early-maturing onions to be consumed fresh, whereas internal land, made of clay or open clay soils, are well-suited for growing storage onions. Red onions have long been, and continue to be, grown both in family vegetable gardens and across large-scale areas and are an integral part of the rural countryside, of people’s diets, local dishes and traditional recipes.

The soil and climatic features of the territory combine to make a product which is quite unique, of high-level quality and renowned throughout the world.