Asparago Verde di Altedo

Green asparagus shoots grown within a defined area spanning the provinces of Bologna and Ferrara, Italy, and registered as a PGI under file number PGI-IT-0127. Production is restricted to specified cultivars — Eros, Marte, Franco, Giove, Ercole, Vittorio, and Athos — and shoots must be classified as Extra or Class I before release for consumption.

About this designation

Asparago verde di Altedo is a protected geographical indication covering green asparagus shoots produced within a delimited zone bounded by the Via Emilia in the province of Bologna, the Adriatic coast, and the Po river in the province of Ferrara. The specification names seven permitted cultivars: Eros, Marte, Franco, Giove, Ercole, Vittorio, and Athos; other cultivars derived from varietal research may also be used, provided their method of production and qualitative characteristics are demonstrated to be consistent with the specification and notified in advance to the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy. All production stages up to and including harvest must take place within the defined geographical area. Shoots released for consumption must be classified as Extra or Class I and must be whole, fresh in appearance, healthy, free from rodent or insect damage, clean, free of abnormal external moisture, and free of foreign odours and flavours; they must not be hollow, split, peeled, or broken. Shoots that fail only the class or shape requirements may be used for processing and may carry the Asparago verde di Altedo PGI, but may not be sold to the end consumer. The product is packaged in bundles ranging from a minimum of 250 g to a maximum of 3 kg. Packaging must bear the words 'Asparago verde di Altedo' and 'Indicazione Geografica Protetta' in letters of equal size, together with the designation's logo. The Consorzio di Tutela dell'Asparago verde di Altedo IGP, based in Malalbergo (BO), is the applicant group responsible for the specification.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PGI on 2 May 2000 under file number PGI-IT-0127 (eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013577).
• The specification permits no cultivars other than Eros, Marte, Franco, Giove, Ercole, Vittorio, and Athos, except those approved through the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy.
• All production stages up to harvest must take place exclusively within the defined area in the provinces of Bologna and Ferrara.
• Shoots defective only in size or shape may carry the PGI for processing use but may not be sold directly to the end consumer.

Tasting notes

Emilian green asparagus from Altedo area (Bologna province). Bright green spears with characteristic flavor profile, traditional Emilian variety.

HoReCa use

Emilian spring dishes — pasta, risotto, classic with Parmigiano shavings.

Packaging

• crate-5kg
• retail-bunch-500g

Seasonality