The almond tree has been present in Mediterranean countries since ancient times. It arrived in Italy thanks to the Phoenicians and almonds were mainly used for the preparation of sweets and for the oil which, from the Middle Ages onwards, was sometimes used instead of the more expensive olive oil. In traditional medieval and Renaissance iconography, the almond often surrounds Christ or the Virgin Mary to signify that the divine nature is contained within the human one. The Toritto almond, cultivar ‘Filippo Cea’, is closely linked to the territory and contributes to its biodiversity. It is cultivated using organic farming methods in the Alta Murgia National Park. In 2004 the Toritto Almond became part of the Ark of Taste, obtaining recognition as a Slow Food Presidium; in the same year the Puglia region identified it as a ‘typical and traditional product’.

Citrus fruits (lemons, oranges, etc.) are also called ‘Hesperid berry‘ after the myth of the Hesperides: the maidens guardians of the marvellous garden that contained the magical golden apples symbolising fruitful love. Lemon is renowned for its calming, anti-inflammatory properties and is said to improve memory.