Italy has always been a country where the tradition is huge and varied, and the various local productions can be very diversified from each other even just by moving a few kilometers within a territory. This is precisely the case of Tuscany and, specifically, of the Londa area, in the province of Florence. It is here that a type of friuit called “Queen of Londa peach” is born, which has certain characteristics that make it unique in its kind. Let’s see in this article its history and the main peculiarities that distinguish it from other peaches grown in Tuscany.

The Queen of Londa peach: history

In general, the cultivation and spread of peachin Tuscany is due to the Medici family in the sixteenth century.

However, speaking specifically of the Queen of Londa peach, its history dates back to around the middle of the last century. A passionate farmer of the area, a certain Alfredo Leoni, discovered it almost by chance and decided to continue its cultivation.

The main characteristics of the Queen of Londa peach

It is a white-fleshed peach grown mainly at an altitude between 100 and 700 meters above sea level, in fields generally sheltered from the wind and far from the coast.

The main feature is given by the fact that it is a late peach which, unlike the other peaches, is harvested in late September.

It grows mainly at night or possibly at times with less humidity. It is a very fragrant fruit that reaches slightly larger dimensions than traditional peaches and, again with respect to it, is more flattened on the poles.

Its color is mainly white and light green, with some shades of red. It has a very sweet taste starting from the peel, which is less thick than usual.

Why is it so important

A fundamental feature that then gave way to the great marketability of this type of white pulp peach is the fact that it is very resistant to the action of a particular pathogenic fungus, which specifically attacks peach trees, called “powdery mildew”.

Precisely for this reason it is possible to produce them avoiding that during the harvest one encounters specimens that have too many imperfections.

This characteristic was immediately discovered by Alfredo Leoni and was one of the reasons that led him to introduce it on the market; in addition to the fact, of course, that it can also be sold in an autumn period, when it was difficult to find other similar fruits on the stalls.

Its production

Although very attractive on the market, the Queen of Londa peach is produced in small quantities every year, and sold mainly in local markets. This is because, as we have said, the characteristics that allow its growth are very selective and the fields where it is cultivated are limited in number.