XXIV Chestnut Festival

The 24^ Chestnut Festival will host an important and valuable market exhibition of typical Antillean agri-food and gastronomic products (mushrooms, oil, wine, honey, dried fruit, cheeses, local meats, etc.) as well as local handicrafts. The spread of the chestnut tree in Antillo has been inextricably linked to the demographic dynamics of the local community; in fact, its cultivation was intense, representing one of the main sources of livelihood, when this center was very populated, to then record a significant drop in production in recent decades, at the same time as the demographic decrease that affected the mountain villages. In recent years, however, there has been an important trend reversal: thanks to the consumer’s desire to rediscover genuine products and flavors, the demand for chestnuts on the market has increased considerably. There are many expected results that are expected to be achieved with the implementation of this initiative:

– To increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector which, in the context of the Antillean economy, has always been of fundamental importance, given the essentially rural and mountainous nature of the territory;

– Confirm and consolidate the success achieved over the years by the market exhibition of agricultural, gastronomic and artisanal products;

– Re-evaluate the agri-food and gastronomic products typical of the area through an incisive territorial marketing action, focusing on those native products that identify the territory, such as chestnuts which, due to the high quality determined by particularly suitable areas, are representative of the territories falling within the mountain stretch of the Valle d’Agrò.

– Enhance gastronomic tourism;

– Consolidate the producer-consumer relationship, focusing everything on the quality of local specialties and on containing their price.