translated from Spanish: So valuable pistachios that need to be protected by the police

The captain of police Nicolo Morandi says that he and his CO Legas are already preparing for September.
At least six officers are going to patrol during the day and up to 12 at night. And if necessary, they will use the police helicopter.
“We will conduct a series of precautionary operations,” he says.
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Captain Morandi speaks from the slopes on the north side of Mount Etna on the Italian island of Sicily.
Initially it may seem incongruous, but what he and his team have begun to plan is this year’s pistachio harvest.
The National police force of Italy, the Carabineros, use helicopters to patrol the pistachio fields. Sicily has the most precious variety in the world: the Pistacchio Verde di Bronte (Green pistachio of Bronte).
With a center in the city of Bronte, pistachios grow in about 3,000 hectares on the slopes of Etna, an active volcano.
Although Bronte pistachios represent only 1% of the world’s crop production, they are the most expensive.
Often called “Green gold of Sicily”, one kilogram of seeds, without shell, costs US $17,40. This is more than double the price of pistachios of the two largest producers in the world: the United States and Iran.
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Enrico Cimbali, president of the local trade organization Consorzio di Guardianship, says there are 230 authorized farmers within the defined area of Bronte, which has the protection of the designation of origin controlled (DOC).
Fans ensure that their seeds taste better and maintain their bright green color longer.
However, given the lucrative nature of the crop, it attracts an ongoing problem during harvesting: thieves.
These criminals appear in their cars during the night and try to escape with as many pistachios as they can.
All the green pistachio seeds of Bronte are harvested one by one by hand. The pistachio trees produce only one crop every two years, which in Sicily is given in odd years, like the 2019, and the seeds are collected in September.
In 2009, thieves stole 300 kg of Bronte pistachios during harvest time (valued at more than 4,600 euros at current prices), which led the mayor of Bronte to ask the police to do more to protect the crop.
This resulted in the Carabinieri, Italy’s national police force, introducing helicopter patrols from 2011 and putting more officers ashore.
“Honest citizens welcome this service, because harvest time is a very delicate time for our community,” says pistachio producer Mario Prestianni.
“One afternoon I was closing my property door, and the Carabinieri stopped me, asking me aloud who I was and what I was doing there. I was relieved that they were present. ”
With 2019 Bronte pistachio seeds forming slowly after the bloom trees in March, Prestianni and all others expect a harvest greater than the 1,250 tonnes produced in 2017.
As it totally depends on the climatic conditions, in 2015, for example, they collected 1,400.
Producers want to enter more markets abroad. Industry also aims to boost exports, which currently account for around 80% of production. The biggest buyers are France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland and the United States.
“In our efforts to increase exports, we do online marketing and participate in a minimum of six samples worldwide every year,” says Francesco Di Sano, a pistachio businessman based in Bronte. “This includes fairs in Nuremberg and Dubai.
“(But) we need more support on the promotion side, because people from abroad don’t know how to get to us.
“And a global partner would also help us understand different consumption habits, so we can supply more markets.”
Natives of the Middle East
The city of Bronte estimates that the seed provides its economy with an income of 20 million euros per year.
In addition to the famous green pistachio of Bronte, it has food companies that process Sicilian pistachios from outside the DOC area, even from other countries.
Pistachios are a pillar of Italian cuisine. ” Bronte workers have such a long experience that there is also a large amount of foreign pistachio, says Vincenzo Capizzi, of the local group of tourism Pro-Loco.
This processing work can range from husking pistachios to flour or pasta for use as an ingredient for cooking.
The seeds are present in numerous Sicilian desserts and in savoury dishes such as spaghetti with pistachio pesto, not forgetting the ubiquitous Italian pistachio ice cream.
Bronte also celebrates an annual pistachio festival, which attracts visitors from all over Europe.
Pistachio farmer Mario Prestianni says he is thankful for the presence of the police. The pistachio trees, which are native to the Middle East, were introduced for the first time on the volcanic soil of Sicily by the Moors, who ruled the Italian island during the 9TH to 11TH centuries.
Today, the seeds are harvested exactly the same way: laboriously, by hand, one by one. Farmers like Prestianni spend the whole harvest living in huts next to their precious cultivation.
“After the harvest, peel the seeds and spread them to let them dry the Sicilian sun for three days,” he says.
“After every sunset you have to remove them to protect them from the humidity of the night. We also have to act quickly to protect them from the rain during the day. ”
Seeds are stored in warehouses before being shipped to local factories for processing.
The seeds are growing now before the harvest in September. While preparing for the harvest this September, Prestianni is happy that the police have also begun their planning work.
“The area (of growth) is far from the urban centers,” he says.
“We were glad to have the police patrolling at night to avoid the armed thieves who could come with a pickup truck to steal the harvest at once.”

Original source in Spanish

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