From Mount Vesuvius to the whole world, an exclusive product

The first official and recognized representation of Nocerino spring onions dates back to the last decades B.C. in the Larario del Sarno paintings, where some local vegetables are well distinguishable while being transported by river to Pompeii. It is concluded that the nocerino spring onion has been handed down virtually intact, as far as phenotypic features, from antiquity to today. The first traces of intensive cultivation and availability in the market are instead from the early Middle Ages. At the end of the nineteenth century, nocerino spring onions were quoted in the major seed catalogues and agronomic manuals. Lastly, during the Second World War, the onion has been of great importance in the local economy, representing a precious source of nourishment for local people in times of famine, while its spread throughout the world has been in the last few decades.

There are 21 municipalities where DOP certified crops are recognised: 12 in the province of Salerno and 9 in the province of Naples. In total, the production is spread over approximately 1,400 hectares of land, showing the exclusive nature of this product. In total, every year, about 50,000 tons of fresh produce are produced, for a turnover of over €30 million. These figures can be reached due to the favourable climate and particularly fertile ground, the nocerino spring onion is cultivated all year round. The Designation of Origin Protection was granted on 10th July 2008; the subsequent registration with the national register of DOP products took place through a Ministerial Order on 16th July of the same year.