
Location: Albareto, Province of Parma, Italy
Address: Località Rovina 88, 43051 Albareto (PR)
Main products: Honey, blueberries and organic raspberries
Area: Upper Taro Valley – Parma Apennines
Contact: +39 366 536 8364
Surrounded by the natural landscape of Albareto and the upper Taro Valley, Andrea Ferro Apicoltura – Società Agricola Colle Vento is a small agricultural business where beekeeping and berry cultivation are closely connected with the surrounding environment.
The farm is managed by Andrea Ferro, who chose the upper Taro Valley as the place to develop his passion for beekeeping into an agricultural activity.
Today, honey production is accompanied by the cultivation of blueberries and raspberries, creating an interesting combination of products associated with the mountain countryside.
Honey is one of the farm's main products.
The location of the apiaries in an area rich in vegetation and biodiversity gives the bees access to the varied natural environment of the upper Taro Valley.
For Colle Vento, beekeeping is not simply about obtaining honey. Particular attention is given to the wellbeing of the bees and to choosing suitable natural environments for the colonies.
This approach creates a close relationship between the final product and the landscape where it originates.
Bees play an essential role in the countryside because their activity contributes to the pollination of many plants.
At Colle Vento, this relationship becomes especially important because beekeeping exists alongside fruit cultivation.
The bees benefit from an environment rich in flowering plants, while their pollination activity supports the agricultural ecosystem around them. The farm therefore represents a good example of how different agricultural activities can complement one another.
Colle Vento is not dedicated exclusively to honey.
The farm also grows blueberries and raspberries, with its raspberry cultivation certified organic.
These small fruits are particularly well suited to the identity of a mountain farm, where climate, altitude and the surrounding natural environment contribute to creating conditions different from those found in intensive lowland agriculture.
The combination of berries and beekeeping also gives the farm a distinctive character among the agricultural producers of Albareto.
Discovering Colle Vento means exploring another part of the food culture of Albareto.
The town and the surrounding upper Taro Valley are best known for forests and the famous Borgotaro PGI Porcini Mushroom, but the local agricultural landscape also produces many other interesting foods.
Honey and berries add another dimension to this gastronomic heritage and offer visitors an opportunity to discover products directly connected with the mountains.
Colle Vento has a farm shop, allowing customers to purchase its products directly from the producer. The farm has also taken part in local fairs and offers product shipping.
For visitors travelling through Albareto, buying directly from a local agricultural producer can be an interesting way to discover the territory while supporting businesses that continue to work in the mountain area.
Colle Vento can be included in a wider food itinerary through Albareto and the surrounding villages.
A journey through this part of the Parma Apennines can combine honey, berries, Parmigiano Reggiano, traditional cured meats and Borgotaro PGI Porcini Mushrooms, offering a broader picture of the agricultural and gastronomic traditions of the valley.
For travellers interested in rural tourism and local food, these small producers are an opportunity to discover a more authentic side of the territory.
Name: Società Agricola Colle Vento
Location: Località Rovina 88, 43051 Albareto (PR), Italy
Area: Upper Taro Valley – Parma Apennines
Main activities: beekeeping and berry cultivation
Products: honey, blueberries and organic raspberries
Direct sales: available at the farm
Telephone: +39 366 536 8364
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Location: Albareto, Province of Parma, Italy
Address: Località Case Palazzina 454, 43051 Albareto (PR)
Company: Guazzi S.n.c. di Stefano, Roberto e Giuliano
Founded: 1996
Sector: Metalworking and industrial manufacturing
Specialisation: CNC sheet metal processing and components for industrial applications
Based in Albareto, in the upper Taro Valley, Fratelli Guazzi is a specialised company operating in the Italian metalworking industry.
The business has been active since 1996 and works with metal components intended for professional and industrial applications. Its production activities are particularly focused on the processing of stainless-steel and iron sheets using CNC machinery.
The company represents the industrial side of Albareto, an area more commonly associated with the landscapes, villages and food traditions of the Parma Apennines.
Modern metalworking requires a high level of accuracy, particularly when components must meet specific dimensions and technical requirements.
Fratelli Guazzi uses computer-controlled machinery to process sheet metal for customers operating in the mechanical and industrial sectors.
This type of production makes it possible to manufacture both individual components and parts intended to become elements of larger industrial systems.
Two of the main materials processed by the company are stainless steel and iron.
Each material can be selected according to the characteristics required by the finished component, including resistance, durability and the environment in which it will eventually be used.
The company works as a supplier for other businesses in the metalworking sector, combining production capabilities with the possibility of carrying out work according to customers' technical requirements.
A metal component often requires additional treatment after the main manufacturing process.
Fratelli Guazzi can supply products with different types of surface finishing, including painting, micro-shot blasting and galvanising.
This allows customers to receive components that are further prepared for their intended industrial use.
One of the company's most distinctive developments is GuazziSlit, a patented solution designed for applications involving the installation of pipelines.
The system uses a steel structure fitted around the main pipe. Its design helps support the pipeline during installation while providing additional protection for the pipe and its external coating.
Rolling elements incorporated into the structure are intended to assist movement during the installation process.
This product highlights an important aspect of the company: alongside subcontracted metalworking, Fratelli Guazzi has also developed its own specialised industrial technology.
The company's activities are carried out at its site in Località Case Palazzina in Albareto.
According to company information, production is organised into four departments, with approximately 3,000 square metres of covered space and a further 2,500 square metres of outdoor area.
Having its production facilities in Albareto allows the company to maintain its roots in the upper Taro Valley while serving customers beyond the local area.
Albareto is best known to visitors for its forests, mountain scenery and connection with the famous Borgotaro PGI Porcini Mushroom.
However, the local economy also includes manufacturing and engineering companies.
Fratelli Guazzi is an example of this less visible but important part of the territory. Its activity connects a small municipality in the Parma Apennines with the wider Italian industrial and metalworking sector.
Together with other specialised businesses operating in the area, it demonstrates that the upper Taro Valley combines traditional mountain activities with modern manufacturing, engineering and technological expertise.
Company: Guazzi S.n.c. di Stefano, Roberto e Giuliano
Location: Località Case Palazzina 454, 43051 Albareto (PR), Italy
Founded: 1996
Sector: Metalworking and industrial manufacturing
Main materials: stainless steel and iron
Activities: CNC sheet metal processing and industrial components
Specialised solution: GuazziSlit
Telephone: +39 0525 929442
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Location: Gotra di Albareto, Parma, Italy
Sector: Water filtration and treatment technology
Company: Everblue S.r.l.
Area: Upper Taro Valley – Parma Apennines
In Gotra, a hamlet of Albareto, Everblue is one of the companies representing the industrial and technological side of the upper Taro Valley.
The company operates in the field of water filtration and treatment, developing and supplying equipment intended mainly for professional and industrial applications.
Its presence in the Parma Apennines shows another side of Albareto's economy. The area is famous for its natural environment, food traditions and mountain tourism, but it is also home to specialised businesses capable of working with customers and markets well beyond the local territory.
Water management is an essential part of many industrial processes. Different production activities require water with specific characteristics, while others need systems capable of separating unwanted substances or preparing water for subsequent treatment.
Everblue works in this specialised field, offering technologies designed to meet different filtration requirements.
The company's activity covers both conventional filtration and more advanced water-treatment solutions, making it possible to address applications with very different technical needs.
An important part of Everblue's business concerns equipment used to separate particles and impurities from water and other liquids.
Its range includes different types of filtration systems and components, such as cartridges, filter housings, bags, basket filters, cyclone systems and self-cleaning filters.
The availability of several technologies means that the most appropriate solution can be selected according to factors such as the type of liquid, the required filtration level and the characteristics of the industrial process.
Everblue also operates in the field of membrane technology, an increasingly important sector for modern water treatment.
Solutions associated with reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and membrane bioreactors can be used when more advanced separation and purification processes are required.
These technologies make it possible to manage water in a more controlled way and can be integrated into installations designed for a wide variety of industrial environments.
Water filtration is not limited to a single type of company.
It can play an important role in manufacturing, food production, chemical processing, energy, pharmaceuticals and many other sectors where the quality and management of water are part of the production cycle.
Everblue's technologies are therefore aimed at a varied industrial market, with solutions that can be adapted according to the characteristics of each project.
Choosing a filtration system requires more than simply selecting a filter.
Flow rates, operating conditions, contaminants and the final objective of the treatment all need to be considered when identifying the right equipment.
For this reason, Everblue combines its product range with technical and engineering expertise, supporting customers in finding solutions suited to their individual requirements.
The company's activities also include services connected with system management, maintenance and technical assistance.
Everblue's headquarters in Albareto and its production activities in the nearby Taro Valley give the company a strong connection with the Province of Parma.
This is particularly interesting because the upper Taro Valley is usually associated with a very different image: forests, hiking, small villages and gastronomic specialities such as the Borgotaro PGI Porcini Mushroom.
Alongside these traditions, companies such as Everblue demonstrate that the local economy also includes engineering, manufacturing and specialised industrial technology.
From a mountain area in the Province of Parma, Everblue operates in a sector that responds to needs shared by industries around the world.
Water is an increasingly important resource, and technologies capable of filtering, treating and managing it efficiently have become essential in many production processes.
This combination of local roots and specialised expertise makes Everblue an interesting example of the entrepreneurial activity found in Albareto and the upper Taro Valley.
Company: Everblue S.r.l.
Headquarters: Via Alberto Zanrè 16, Gotra di Albareto, 43051 Albareto (PR), Italy
Production site: Borgo Val di Taro (PR)
Sector: Industrial water filtration and treatment
Main activities: filtration systems, membrane technologies, technical solutions and assistance
Telephone: +39 0525 1920100
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Location: Albareto, Province of Parma, Italy
Address: Località Bertorella, 43051 Albareto (PR)
Founded: 1961
Sector: Construction materials, concrete, aggregates and roadworks
Area: Upper Taro Valley – Parma Apennines
Located in Bertorella, in the municipality of Albareto, Frantoio Valtaro is a long-established company working in the construction and infrastructure sector.
The business was founded in 1961 by the Spotti brothers and is still connected with the Spotti family. Over the decades, its activities have expanded from the processing of aggregates to include concrete, materials for road construction and other specialised products.
Its history makes Frantoio Valtaro an interesting example of an industrial company that has grown in the upper Taro Valley, combining local roots with services aimed at construction companies, professionals and larger infrastructure projects.
One of the company's traditional activities is the production and processing of materials used in construction.
Frantoio Valtaro supplies different types of sand, gravel and crushed stone, materials required for projects ranging from building renovation to new construction and infrastructure works.
These products form the basic materials for many construction processes and represent one of the sectors on which the company's development was originally built.
Frantoio Valtaro also operates in the production of ready-mixed concrete.
This activity was introduced during the early years of the company and was accompanied by transport to construction sites using specialised vehicles. Today, concrete remains one of the principal areas of the company's business.
The availability of pumping services also allows concrete to be delivered and placed according to the requirements of different building projects.
Another important part of the company's work concerns materials used for roads, industrial areas and other paved surfaces.
Frantoio Valtaro produces bituminous mixtures and emulsions, including certified materials intended for roads, yards and major transport infrastructure.
The company has also developed experience in road construction, maintenance and asphalt paving, extending its operations beyond the Taro Valley to other areas of Emilia-Romagna and northern Italy.
A particularly distinctive area of Frantoio Valtaro's business is the supply of materials for horse-riding arenas and equestrian surfaces.
The company provides materials for the different layers required to create an arena, including specialised sands and products designed for riding surfaces.
Its range includes the Equathlon line, developed for equestrian grounds used for everyday riding, training and competition.
This specialist activity allows the company to serve riding centres and equestrian facilities in addition to its traditional construction customers.
The history of Frantoio Valtaro reflects the gradual development of the construction industry in the Parma Apennines.
After starting aggregate processing in the early 1960s, the company added ready-mixed concrete, followed by bituminous products, roadworks and the sale of construction materials. Later, new areas of activity were introduced, including products for equestrian facilities.
More than sixty years after its foundation, the company therefore operates across several related sectors while maintaining its headquarters in Albareto.
Albareto is widely associated with mountain landscapes, forests, traditional food and tourism, but its economy also includes companies working in construction, manufacturing and technical services.
Frantoio Valtaro represents this industrial side of the territory.
Its long presence in Bertorella di Albareto shows how businesses based in the Parma Apennines can develop specialised activities while remaining closely connected to the area where they were founded.
Company: Frantoio Valtaro
Location: Località Bertorella, 43051 Albareto (PR), Italy
Founded: 1961
Main activities: aggregates, sand, crushed stone, ready-mixed concrete, bituminous materials and construction services
Specialised products: materials and surfaces for equestrian arenas
Telephone: +39 0525 990126
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Location: Albareto, Province of Parma, Italy
Area: Upper Taro Valley – Parma Apennines
Founded: 1967
Main speciality: Parmigiano Reggiano Mountain Product
Direct sales: available at the dairy shop
In the green landscape of the Parma Apennines, Caseificio Sociale Borgotaro represents one of the local businesses closely connected with the agricultural traditions of the upper Taro Valley.
Located in Albareto, the dairy has been operating since 1967 and brings together local milk production and the traditional skills required to make one of Italy's best-known cheeses: Parmigiano Reggiano.
Its mountain location is an important part of its identity. The milk used by the dairy comes from farms in the surrounding area, creating a direct connection between the cheese, the animals, the local countryside and the people who work there.
The speciality of Caseificio Borgotaro is Parmigiano Reggiano Mountain Product, a cheese whose production is closely linked to the mountain environment.
Making Parmigiano Reggiano in this part of the Province of Parma means preserving an agricultural system in which small farms and mountain pastures continue to play an important role.
The result is a product that tells the story of the territory through its aromas, texture and different stages of maturation.
Visitors can discover Parmigiano Reggiano at different stages of ageing, including 12, 24 and 36 months.
A younger Parmigiano Reggiano generally offers a gentler flavour and a texture that still retains some softness. As the maturation period increases, the cheese gradually becomes more crumbly and aromatic.
The longer-aged versions are particularly interesting for tasting on their own, while the different maturations can also be used in many traditional Italian recipes.
Trying more than one age is an excellent way to understand how time transforms Parmigiano Reggiano.
Caseificio Borgotaro has retained a strong relationship with the farms of the surrounding mountains.
Milk is collected from local producers and transformed according to the traditional Parmigiano Reggiano production process.
This close connection with the agricultural community makes the dairy particularly interesting for visitors who want to discover a side of the Parma Food Valley that extends beyond the city and reaches the villages and mountains of the Apennines.
One of the reasons to stop at the dairy is the possibility of buying Parmigiano Reggiano directly from the producer.
The shop offers different maturations and formats, making it possible to choose the cheese according to personal taste or how it will be used.
Alongside Parmigiano Reggiano, visitors can also find a selection of other foods associated with the gastronomic traditions of the area.
It is therefore a useful address for anyone looking for local products in Albareto or wishing to take home some of the flavours of the upper Taro Valley.
The gastronomic identity of Albareto and the surrounding valley goes well beyond cheese.
This part of the Parma Apennines is particularly famous for its woodland products and traditional foods. The Borgotaro PGI Porcini Mushroom is one of the best-known local specialities and has become a symbol of the entire valley.
Visiting Caseificio Borgotaro can therefore become part of a wider food itinerary combining Parmigiano Reggiano, mushrooms, cured meats and other products from the mountains of Parma.
For travellers interested in Italian food traditions, Caseificio Borgotaro offers an opportunity to discover where Parmigiano Reggiano comes from and how closely its production is connected with the countryside.
It is an interesting stop to combine with a visit to Albareto, the surrounding villages and the natural landscapes of the upper Taro Valley.
Food lovers can also continue towards Borgo Val di Taro and explore an area where gastronomy, forests, mountain farming and small local producers remain an important part of everyday life.
A stop at Caseificio Borgotaro is particularly recommended for visitors who want to:
Name: Caseificio Sociale Borgotaro
Town: Albareto
Province: Parma
Region: Emilia-Romagna
Country: Italy
Area: Upper Taro Valley
Main speciality: Parmigiano Reggiano Mountain Product
Ageing available: 12, 24 and 36 months
Direct sales: yes
Founded: 1967