Primitivizia

Primitivizia is a play on the Italian words for primitive (primitivo) and delight (delizia). This neologism captures the meaning and passion of the work of legendary forager Eleonora Cunaccia and her brother Giovanni.

Primitivizia is located in the heart of the National Park of the Dolomiti del Brenta in Trento, Italy. When Eleonora and Giovanni filed their business application with the local authorities, their permit took over a year and a half and required a change in European laws because the produce inside their jars was wild and foraged. After many meetings and inspections, a new business type was specifically created for them known as Officina Botanica ("Botanical Office").

Eleonora considers herself a nomad gatherer. As a resident of the National Park, she has a special permit and license to gather certain herbs and fruits from the wilderness. These licenses are very limited and are issued by the National Park authority to a handful of local residents who understand the fragility of the magnificent environment they live in.

Eleonora selectively gathers herbs, berries, pine buds, and roots in a progressive pattern starting in the early spring at the bottom of the valley and moving up close to the glaciers by late summer. After the daily harvest, the crop of wild herbs is brought to the small officina (kitchen office) where Giovanni, with the help of a food processor, a stove and a pasteurizing bath will transform them into very unique magic pastes of concentrated flavors. Eleonora likes to show the only products they buy for making the Primitivizia products: seed oil, wine, vinegar, salt, and sugar.

Eleonora always notes, “La natura ha il suo ritmo e bisogna sapere  aspettare!” (Nature has its rhythm and you need to know how to wait!).