Gusto Italiano Project

The ‘Gusto Italiano Project’ is a collaboration between Culinary Breeding Network, Uprising Seeds and northern Italian vegetable breeders at Smarties.bio. The project was born from a mutual love of radicchio and a desire to further establish it as an anchor of the fall and winter produce season here in North America, and specifically the Pacific Northwest.

Beginning in early 2021, Uprising Seeds offers this special line of certified organic radicchio and regional specialty Brassica seeds, bred and grown in Italy by the incredible folks at Smarties.bio. Based in Chioggia, the heart of radicchio's motherland, Smarties.bio exists at the crossroads of tradition and innovation by bringing years of modern breeding experience to classic, culturally significant vegetables of their region. This is the first complete line of radicchio seed available as certified organic and bred for these systems.

In addition, Smarties.bio has initiated a "Biodiversity project" that works to preserve locally and historically significant varieties with deep roots in small northern Italian farming communities. Uprising Seeds will be offering a leaf-broccoli known as "Broccolo Fiolaro di Creazzo", a winter cabbage "Verza Moretta di Veronella" and two cauliflowers "Broccolo di Bassano" Precoce (late fall harvest) and Tardivo (overwinter harvest).

CBN will be sharing content to give culinary and cultural context to these seeds: providing detailed growing information, offering recipes and cooking videos and working to create shared community through these foods we love. Make sure you’re following all three collaborators on Instagram!

It has been a goal of the CBN to create new relationships with Italian growers & breeders, from our Radicchio Expedition and now to our #GustoItalianoProject.

Artwork by @ioenina