numerous fields of knowledge
Rich tradition
This is centered on the care of trees and their habitat, but it is not limited to this. Around a product that has been central to the lives of mountain populations for centuries, numerous areas of knowledge have developed, related to: - the knowledge and use of different undergrowth species, - free-range livestock farming and beekeeping, - the processing of the fruit and its derivatives, developing a rich culinary and gastronomic tradition, - the production and processing of timber (construction wood, carpentry and handicrafts, firewood, wood for tannin production, wood waste for fertilization).
from the second half of the last century
Abandonment of chestnut groves
In the second half of the last century, the progressive depopulation of rural areas, especially in the mountains, the aging of the resident population, and the greater appeal of less strenuous jobs marked a decline in production and the destruction or abandonment of chestnut groves. A decisive factor in the destruction of large areas of chestnut orchards in the Mugello region was the use of the timber for the tannin industry.
excellent product
Trend reversal
Since the 1980s, there has been a reversal of the trend and greater interest in the chestnut, no longer seen as a source of nourishment and subsistence for local populations, but as a product of excellence due to its particular characteristics of taste, nutritional value, and as a guarantee of a healthy and natural diet, geared towards the international market.