Casalbuono beans
This small village on the Vallo di Diano hills has a long tradition of growing beans whose fame had spread to Naples. There are many reasons for this tradition: a mild climate, influenced by the Calore river, which prevents excessive temperature changes and ensures high nighttime humidity; farmland exposure, sheltered from the cold north winds; and many natural springs flowing in the area.
Seven varieties of beans (some dwarf and some climbing plants) are currently cultivated. The most interesting ones are two climbing varieties: the Sant'Antere, which produces long oval shape seeds with red and brown stripes on a beige background, and the Panzariedda, with round seeds half white and beige. Growing the climbing varieties is more difficult as the plants must be supported by a wooden stake or by the corn plant - where available - as was made in the past. Flowering and maturation require several steps and harvesting is manually done, as pods drying and shelling. These legumes are a Slow Food Presidium.
