Calabrian Verdello Lemons

Verdello is our Liscione lemon from the Sibari Plain, picked at the first stage of ripening, from October to the end of November. The peel is still green, but the flesh is already juicy and ready to squeeze: it is the same lemon that turns yellow later in the season.

Why the lemon is green

Peel colour depends on temperature, not on the amount of juice. In autumn the nights are still mild and the peel stays green even when the fruit is ripe inside. With the winter cold it turns yellow. That is why we pick Verdello only until the end of November: after that, our Calabrian lemons arrive yellow, with the same juice.

Kept at room temperature, the lemons may gradually turn yellow in the days after delivery: this is a natural process and does not change the juice.

Features

• Variety: Liscione, picked with a green peel.
• Juice: plentiful from harvest, ideal for juices, dressings, marinades and desserts.
• Peel: green and fragrant, no post-harvest treatment.
• Season: from October to the end of November.
• Vitamin C: lemons are a source of vitamin C, which contributes to the normal function of the immune system. A varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are important.

Verdello: a note on the name

In Sicily, verdello is also the name of the summer lemon produced with the forcing technique and picked between July and September. Our Verdello is instead the first autumn harvest of the Calabrian Liscione: same common name, because the peel is green, but a different season and growing method.

Storage

Keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, or in the fridge vegetable drawer to make them last longer and keep their green colour for longer.