lthough artichokes have always been grown in Valle del Sele thanks to its particularly favorable climatic conditions, wide-scale farming of this plant didn't start until the 1920s, when a massive land reform project and reclamation of swamplands led to lasting transformations in the local agriculture.
Valle del Sele's artichokes were mentioned in the statistics published in 1811, when the region was known as the Kingdom of Naples. But the most thorough study on the importance and potentials of artichoke farming in the plain of Piana del Sele was conducted in 1960. The author mentions the artichoke of Castellammare as the variety commonly farmed in these plains. Eventually, the artichoke of Castellammare became known as "carciofo tondo di Paestum," or round artichoke of Paestum.
Nowadays, artichoke farming has become a major source of income in the region and specialized farmers are dedicating more of their land to this crop.
Paestum artichoke belongs to the family of "Romanesco," or Roman artichokes. It is distinguishable from other Roman varieties by its large size, its not-quite-so-round shape, and by its peculiar taste, which are the result of particular farming methods developed in Piana del Sele.
