AZIENDA AGRICOLA BEGARANI CRISTIAN

The Begarani Cristian agricultural company is an own-run business located in the Food Valley, a small hamlet in the municipality of Calestano, in the province of Parma, an area known for the Uncinato di Fragno truffle. Founded in 2022 from the union of two of my great passions, truffles and beekeeping. To date the company is spread over 11 hectares of hilly land: the cultivated truffle forest extends over 4 hectares and in the inter-row there is fodder alfalfa, excellent for the production of Parmigiano Reggiano, which with its flowering contributes to the production of a particular and high-quality honey. An area dedicated to a small vegetable garden, from which I grow various vegetables without the use of pesticides. A portion of land is dedicated to the cultivation of various honey flowers, guaranteeing the 19 hives a constant harvest without having to resort to forced feeding which is counterproductive for the health of the bees. The remaining hectares are dedicated to the cultivation of soft wheat, for the production of stone-ground type 1 and 2 flour, in addition to its properties, they prevent the growth of fungi harmful to truffle plants. I was born and raised in an area known for truffles, and it was inevitable that I wasn't passionate about them. At 16, with the arrival of Kelly, my first dog, I started exploring the woods in search of truffles. In 2018 I obtained a surveyor's diploma, practicing this profession for a few years, in the meantime I took up truffle cultivation, planting, with the collaboration of my father, a few hundred mycorized plants. In 2020 I purchased my first family of bees. Beekeeping intrigued and fascinated me, making me more and more curious, until I reached 19 hives. The next objectives are to expand the land to have greater production, also increasing the surface area of ​​cultivated truffle fields and the number of beehives, continuing to provide fresh, healthy, sustainable and good quality products, promoting as best as possible what our territory can offer.