Taste and use

That's what makes this Sicilian pasta so special:

• Taste: These Tubetti rigati are characterized by their strong, slightly nutty taste and are very digestible.
• Quality feature: This pasta owes its dark color to the ancient durum wheat variety "Timilia". However, it is not a wholemeal pasta.
  
• Use: The "Timilia" Tubetti rigati complement a minestrone or soup with black respectively green Lentils for an unbeatable combination. You can find more recipes on our Blog.

Cultivation and ecology

This is how "Timilia" durum wheat is grown:

• Cultivation method: Organic farming. The "Timilia" variety is grown by various members of the Valdibella cooperative. The yields are lower compared to conventional wheat fields. Massimiliano, one of the producers, explains: "But this wheat is ideal for organic farming: it is very resistant to diseases and I don't have to invest money in fertilizer or pest control." "Timilia" durum wheat can only be grown in the same field every three years. In the crop rotation, legumes such as lentils and chickpeas, as well as other cereals, are planted in between. Sowing takes place in February, with the soil being gently cultivated without plowing before sowing. Harvesting can take place in May or June. Further insights into the durum wheat variety "Timilia" can be found at this video.
• Producers: The durum wheat is grown by various members of the Valdibella cooperative. Here you can find a blog post on "Timilia" cultivation. The grain is cleaned and threshed in a nearby mill. From there, it is delivered to organic pioneer Girolomoni, which uses a gentle process to produce pasta. Valdibella uses the "Addio Pizzo" label to declare that it does not pay protection money to criminal organizations.

This is how the price is made up

Producers can sell the Timilia grain to the cooperative for 0.70 euros per kilogram. Conventional durum wheat from the EU is traded at 0.20 to 0.25 euros.

Cultivation & processing CHF 3.16

• Cultivation and harvesting: various cooperative members, Cooperativa Valdibella
• Processing: Girolomoni

Transport & logistics CHF 2.38

• Export and logistics: Valdibella, Galliker
• Fees: Customs
• Quality assurance: SQTS laboratory
• Packaging: Zurich plant
• Shipping: Post

Procurement & distribution CHF 2.05

• Coordination, communication, online market: Crowd Container