Already known in Roman times, there are traces of it since the XNUMXst century AD and it also had the honor of appearing in some frescoes, the Razza Pelatella pig is an ancient pig variety that belongs to one of the six historical pig breeds . Its name derives from its appearance: it has pigmented skin, slate-grey or black in color, with a few sparse and thin bristles, arranged on the body in small localized tufts, hence the nickname "pelatella". The most valuable and typical feature of this pig, otherwise known as Razza Casertana, Razza di Teano (or Casertana di Teano), Nero Casertano; Razza Napoletana (or Pelatella Napoletana) is its "marbling", i.e. the presence of abundant intramuscular connective tissue, which gives a particular flavor and softness to the meat.
To keep the flag of the tradition of this breed high today are a few breeders including the family-run company of Gerardo Gasparro, immersed in the passion of the peasant people of the past in the territory of Roccadaspide in the province of Salerno, municipality of seven thousand souls known for the production of the Roccadaspide chestnut, a particular variety of IGP chestnut. We are in an area contiguous to the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, the protected natural area of about 181 thousand hectares, between the Sele plain to the north, Basilicata to the east and south and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. since 1997 a biosphere reserve and since 2010 the first Italian national park to become a geopark.
This explains the importance of the habitat in giving particular flavor to the meat of this ancient autochthonous pig breed, one of the oldest in southern Italy, which has the typical characteristics of the Iberian-Mediterranean pig with a straight profile of the head and ears facing forward cover your eyes.
Appreciated for the quality of its meat, the Razza Pelatella pig was widespread in the Caserta area until the Second World War. Then with the opening of the markets in the post-war period it underwent a very strong reduction due to the takeover of earlier breeds with a higher yield. In 2007, only 594 animals were registered in the Breed Registry (managed by ANAS – National Association of Pig Breeders), down to 403 in 2012. According to an assessment by the FAO, in 2007 the conservation status of the breed was at a critical level.
The Gasparro family raises its pigs in a semi-wild state on the 40-hectare farm, which gives a particular flavor to the meat of this prized pig whose fat, characterized by a high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids, similar in composition to extra virgin olive oil olive oil is considered very healthy as evidenced by some research conducted by the Federico II University of Naples.
In order to guarantee the traceability of the Pelatella breed pigs, the Gasparro family farm is registered with ANAS (National Association of Pig Breeders). The brand "ANTICA RAZZA PELATELLA - black pig reared in Cilento" was also created to ensure the consumer the quality and typicality of the products.
To safeguard the local genetic resource, the National Genealogical Register of local genotypes and the "Seed bank of local Italian pig breeds" were established thanks to funding from the European Commission for the "European project for a bank of pig genetic resources". The operators and professional associations have set up a "decalogue for the correct breeding of the Caserta pig" which prescribes in detail the breeding methods relating to both the surfaces and the feeding and slaughtering areas.
From the meat of the Pelatella pig reared in the chestnut, oak and beech pastures, which richly populate the area, with a reduced use of feed, the butchers of the Gasparro family obtain fine traditional Campania cold cuts: sausages, capocolli, bacon, suppressed and hams for sale in loco and on the online Emporium of the Gasparro family. For the record, the company also produces excellent quality oil and chestnut honey which, as you can imagine, is of a superior level.
Gasparro Gerardo Farm
Via Carretiello, 114
84069 – Roccadaspide (SA)
info@famigliagasparro.it
+39 392 2202445
