Today is the red gold of the municipality of Turi on the Murgia plateau in the metropolitan area of Bari, 50 km from Matera. But if once the town was famous for having been the place of detention of Antonio Gramsci, Sandro Pertini and Francesco Lo Sardo during the fascist period now his name is tied to a cherry cultivated on over 3700 hectares, with an annual production of 100 quintals, equal to 000/1 of national production. And the Cherry Railway, a strange name for this fruit requested and appreciated on the national market. But there is a very specific reason: he came discovered in 1935 near the Sud-Est Railways toll booth of Sammichele di Bari where a railway toll collector, Giorgio Rocco, cultivated with great care a tree of this type of cherry and consumed its pulpy and crunchy fruits.
The consistency of the pulp is strong and crunchy and has an intense, sweet and juicy flavour.
According to another story, the spread of this cherry was due to two farmers from Masseria Caracciolo, Matteo Di Venere and Giovanni Arrè, in the heart of the Turi area, who after a frugal sow the hazelnuts near a small stretch of stones. They soon began to sprout and a few years later the first wicker baskets were filled. The goodness of the fruits pushed the two farmers to market the product also in northern Italy after having noted that the fruits were suitable for long preservation and this made them suitable for long train transport.
Discovered in 1935 in a toll booth of the South-Eastern Railways, it is cultivated on over 3700 hectares, for an annual production of 100 quintals
Let's see in particular the characteristics of this cherry. The peel is vermilion red, the pulp is pink. It has a heart shape and an elongated peduncle. The consistency of the pulp is strong and crunchy and has an intense, sweet and juicy flavour. The ripening period is from May to June. It is possible to keep it fresh for several days (approximately 7 days).
From a nutritional point of view, cherries contain a good quantity of vitamins and minerals, mainly vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus.or. Like all red fruits, they are rich in antioxidant substances. Mainly composed of water and therefore highly hydrating, as well as diuretic, cherries contain melatonin, a substance that promotes sleep. They are rich in levulose, a sugar with a low glycemic index, which is therefore absorbed more gradually by the body. Furthermore, thanks to their composition, it seems that they help maintain normal cholesterol levels in the blood. We also add that cherries contain malic acid, a substance capable of stimulating liver activity. Thanks to their composition, cherries are purifying, draining and detoxifying. Last but not least, according to a study by the Western Human Nutrition Research Center in Davis, California, cherries would be able to carry out an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving action for the benefit of the joints, thanks to the presence of anthocyanins.
A festival on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd June to celebrate the red gold of Turi
As is obvious given that the cultivation of Ferrovia cherries has become a notable source of income for the farmers of this vast area, for some years mainly in June, numerous village festivals are held throughout the surrounding area which attract thousands of admirers but also fruit and vegetable operators from Italy and abroad.
The most important event on the calendar in Turi on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd June is the Ferrovia Cherry Festival, now in its 32nd edition. Two days of fair-market, food stands, musical events and art exhibitions for the event dedicated to one of the most loved products by people from Puglia and beyond. Turi thus showcases the beauty of the area and the goodness of its agricultural products, welcoming tourists to transport them on an all-round experience of food and wine, entertainment, art, guided tours and markets. The event, in fact, will color the main streets of the city (Piazza Silvio Orlandi, Via Sedile, Via XX Settembre, Piazza Pertini, Via Gramsci, Via Antonio Orlandi, Largo Pozzi, Piazza San Giovanni and Piazza Moro) right in the central period of the collection .
Rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and antioxidant substances.
The “Railway” Cherry of Turi thus becomes the driving force and emblem of the territory and is the great protagonist of a village which is characterized by the fair-market area and commercial stands, the food and wine area, the artisan and hobbyist markets, the central stage with music and entertainment events, for collateral events with art exhibitions and for guided tours of the city. In particular, the tourist, in addition to accessing the fair area, will be able to take the opportunity to visit the Grotta di Sant'Oronzo and the Borgo Antico (excursion organized by the Il Viandante Association). While this year the Festival is also open to collaborations with institutions from other municipalities, with the possibility, on 1 and 2 June, of booking a complete visit to the Castellana Caves with a discount on the ticket.
The inauguration on Saturday 1st June 2024 at 19pm in Piazza Silvio Orlandi with the inaugural show in collaboration with the “Who is on stage?!” academy. and “Glamour Eventi”. The ceremony will officially mark the opening of the exhibition spaces of the cherry-producing companies and of the “Eccellenze di Puglia” food and wine exhibition. After the first evening, the festival will return to animate Turi on Sunday 2 June starting from 9am.
Between Saturday and Sunday, the traveling show by the young musicians of the Young Marching Band is scheduled, along with live musical entertainment by DJ Eddy De Marco accompanied by the dance masters of the "Hops" swing school of the 30s and 40s. the Show “Cazacu's Dancing Fountains” and the Musical Show “Grammar School”. And again the traveling musical shows will continue with "Banda Cittadina don Giovanni Cipriani", "Bassa musica di Piripicchio" and "Conturband", and "Notte da Cover" with the Controrchestra big band.
