The Controne Bean Festival

In the heart of the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, Controne is a small town in the Province of Salerno, a strip of land bordering the Alburni massif. And above all, it is the sole producer of what has become one of the culinary strongholds of our Region.

The ecotype of the "Controne white bean" boasts the DOC label and has applied for the IGP label. It is also among the typical products that Slow Food has included in the list of Italian specialties to be preserved.

What truly makes this product exceptional is both the rock, which extends beneath the lands of Controne, making these soils cool and fertile, giving this species of legume a thin skin and greater ease of cooking. But also the water from the many springs fed by the aquifers of the Alburni Mountains.

A bean with very white seeds, round in shape, without spots or eyes. It has a thin, almost imperceptible skin, which gives it great digestibility.

It is defined as "late" because it is sown between the first and second ten days of July and harvested only in November, when the entire community of Controne gathers for the traditional festival, this year scheduled for November 24th and 25th. On this occasion, it will be possible to taste traditional dishes, the tozzetto, a fresella seasoned with boiled beans and extra virgin olive oil, or the more common làgane, wide, egg-free pasta strips.

In recent years, anyone involved in cultivating this splendid product has felt the need to join an association, "Producers of Controne Beans," with the aim of preserving this wonderful ingredient, which is increasingly unique and sought after.

On our portal, we have selected for you the "Controne Bean" produced by the Ferrante Farm. If you happen to be in that area, we strongly recommend visiting this extraordinary family-run farm; Mr. Ferrante will be able to reveal all the secrets of this culinary excellence.

Emiliano Nivelli