Flagship product of Corsican agriculture since the 1960s, clementine benefits from an IGP that guarantees its freshness. These images show that manual harvesting has been the norm since the 1960s and that some growers are inventing new varieties.
October 2016, the harvest of clementines in eastern Corsica begins. The Corsican clementine is picked exclusively manually and always accompanied by its leaves. This fruit, heralding the end of the year holidays, benefits from a PGI, protected geographical indication. This recognition requires regular checks. In a fields of clementine agricultural workers harvest the fruits. Jean-François MATEI, clementine producer, talks about the quality of the product. Customers of a supermarket explain their preference for Corsican clementine.
In 1969, Monsieur Blondel, director of the experimental citrus station of San-Guiliano in Corsica, spoke about the choice of citrus cultivation within the station and particularly that of clementine. It also discusses laboratory research on new species. In the orchards of the resort agricultural workers pick clementines.
In 2006, at the age of 88, René RISTORCELLI, a citrus farmer, is now retired. Many clementines from Corsica owe their names to him. In the 1960s, responsible for the domains of the king of Morocco, he developed new varieties of early clementines. They will revive island production in the 1970s. Look back at his history in his company, first in his orchard where he still grows a few clementines, then in his house.
Citrus cultivation takes precedence over other agricultural speculations. It is a real source of hope for young Corsican farmers. The good production of the year will allow the clementine Corsica to establish its reputation on the continental market. A conditioning center installed by the cooperative of Aléria Mordani, allows to treat 25 tons of clementines per day. Clementines are sorted and packed. Corsica hopes to become the first French citrus region.
Presentation of the good results of the production of Corsican clementine for this year 1976. It is constantly increasing. The report takes us from the fieldss of clementines bearing their fruits to the sorting and packaging chains of an agricultural cooperative.