Truffle gathering and trade in the Monti Sicani Regional Park (Sicily, Italy), a new perspective for the local economy and for employment in economically depressed areas

Italy is one of the most important countries in Europe for truffles gathering and trade. The socioeconomic potential of truffles has been recently investigated in Sicily, an unexplored region for hypogeous fungi until 1990. This paper provides an updated report on the distribution of truffles in a regional park, located in the inner part of Sicily. Topics covered include the methods of collection of Tuber aestivum and T. borchii, the periods of collection of truffles, the procedure for preservation before marketing and the percentage of truffle buyers in Sicily. Besides, a map of the investigated area integrating the presence of the truffle with all other ecological elements is provided. There are currently 278 truffle gatherers in Sicily, distributed in the different provinces. In the investigated area, it is estimated that average of about 190 kg/year of T. aestivum and T. borchii are collected per truffle gatherer. The truffle market in Sicily is not regulated as in other Italian Administrative regions. The selling price varies from 80 to 200 e/kg, depending on the truffle species. The collection and marketing of truffles is an important source of income. It promotes tourism by encouraging the creation of gastronomic routes of quality products.