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| Valsassina: one history of traditions |
Ciresa's history
The founder Giovanni Ciresa, was born in Bindo, where in 1927, only 25 years old, he starts the activity, gathering the fresh cheese, produced in the valley, and ageing it.
In 1932, he builds the warehouse close to the home in Piazza Milano; it represents the first real manufacturing unit.
In 1958, thanks to the success of the activity and to the sons’ co-operation, he realises the dairy of Bindo, according to the new exigencies, that will bring later on to the true concept of company.
In 1968, the managing hands on to the sons; they double the capability of the complex; the founder receives the prize for 40 years of activity, but he dies fours years later.
In 1982, the brothers Vittorio and Alfredo with their sons, establish the up to date unit in Introbio, where they move in 1986, multiplying in the years the structure, the dimensions and the employees.
In 1988 in Sondrio, a planning begins: it provides the realisation of a modern distributing chain that today counts on its own units in the various provinces and it will be completed in 1996 with the new structure in Lecco.
In 2003, thanks to the experience acquired through the years in Novara’s warehouses, the new unit in Cameri is completed; it consents to the company to multiply the producing capacities of Gorgonzola and to increase its position on world-wide market share.
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The founder
Giovanni Ciresa
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Valsassina's history
In times past, the Valley represented a forced pass towards the plains, for people coming from Valtellina and Central Europe, since the present coastal route that connects Bellano to Lecco did not exist (also the Lansquenets, mentioned in the words of Alessandro Manzoni, passed through Valsassina).
The Valsassina’s highlands, averaging 600-800 meters of height, have always been considered a “green lung” for people coming from Milan, due to its closeness to the city which has been determining for the valley economy.
Traditionally bounded, as every alpine valley, to an agricultural and pastoral economy, Valsassina, in the past, also thrived on iron, lead and silver mines exploitation. The culture of iron and its derived products was originated from this ancient matrix, and today it is still one of its characteristics.
The dairy field represents the other aspect of the present economy. Many of the big Italian cheese factories were born in Valsassina, even thought they aren’t present anymore.
Thanks to its peculiar climatic conditions characterised by an ideal environment for cheese ageing, the most important cheese factories established in this land, which is now recognised even by the European Union as a protected area of origin.
This is certainly one of the best known steps of Valsassina history, since it has influenced, in addition to the economic sector, also the life way and customs of its people.
Mountain pasture practice, for instance, is one of the fundamental elements for the maintenance and improvement of the agricultural activities and it is also indispensable for an economic and rational management of farms. It also contributes to keep the traditions and live, and makes it possible the maintenance of what has been done by our predecessors in the valley.
The exquisiteness of mountain cheese must not however let us forget what is produced in the valley floor. Here taleggio, gorgonzola, caprino, robiola, latteria, butter and many other cheeses, compete in goodness and quality for the happiness of whoever loves to eat healthy and genuine food.
Let us not forget, in the end, that if today Valsassina name is equivalent, for the dairy products to a real quality brand, the merit isn’t due to chance or luck, but to the preservation of customs and traditions. They have their roots in a past that honours our valley and its people because, as history testifies, bring out their industriousness, initiative and affection to their land.
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