Caorera, a small hamlet in the municipality of Vas. Famous because, once upon a time, there was the boat crossing that connected the left side of the Piave River with Feltre. It has no more than 80 current residents; the rest of what used to be a town of 400 inhabitants has moved to nearby towns, where it is easier to commute to work. All deeply connected to their birthplace, they actively work to promote their land, traditions, and culture of origin, through initiatives in local associations.
It was on September 13, 1973, when Zanella Walter, Gianni Dorz, Armando Dorz, Luciano Gallina, Luigi Reghin, Liberale Zuglian, Giacomo Zanella appeared before notary Colò and founded the Pro Loco of Caorera.
Thus began 38 years ago the adventure of the Pro Loco with public events, the annual celebration of the Madonna del Piave in August, and a cultural artistic program with exhibitions, a photography contest, drawing contests for students, a sports program with the participation of the SCM fraction team in evening tournaments, and a large regional trout fishing competition on the Piave River. The following presidents have succeeded: Walter Zanella, Luciano Gallina, Sereno Solagna, Agostino Miuzzo. It operated until 1991, then there was a suspension and a new foundation in 2005, with Walter Zanella as president again.
The Pro Loco of Caorera is registered with the regional and national UNPLI, and the Consortium of Pro Loco of the Left Piave, as well as the Social Promotion Register, enjoying an excellent relationship with the municipal administration of Vas. The Pro Loco is responsible for the maintenance of the Park on the Piave, where every year more days are dedicated to pruning the plants, and the grass is periodically mowed by staff paid by the Pro Loco. The same goes for the monument to the Madonna del Piave, which we consider the business card for Caorera, where the pruning and cultivation of the plants are entirely the responsibility of the Pro Loco; every week or ten days the grass is mowed and the flowers are daily watered or replaced, thanks to Tranquillo Mello, whose availability and expertise have made the entrance to the village a pleasant sight.
Part of the program also includes organizing recreational and sports trips, and the main events are: the Feast of St. Gottardo in May, a gathering of 4x4 off-road vehicles at the beginning of July, a motorcycle meeting at the end of July, the Madonna del Piave on August 13, 14, 15, and the Pumpkin Festival, the first weekend in October.
Having an active Pro Loco in the territory is a great asset for Caorera and the municipality of Vas, especially considering the constraints of these times of spending cuts. Having associations more rooted in the territory that want things to be done, and know how to do them, is important. Those, to be clear, who are not paid and do not have economic advantages, where the roles bring only problems, hassles, and rarely some satisfaction, where collaborators are compensated with a sandwich while they work, and a dinner at the end of the year if funds allow.
But it is our world, the world of Pro Loco where everyone works and has fun for the promotion and enhancement of their territory.
The Pumpkin Festival is the highlight of the Pro Loco's events. After initial difficulties, perseverance prevailed. Year after year, the event is constantly growing, always offering dishes made exclusively with pumpkin, including gnocchi, crepes, lasagna, risotto, and tagliatelle, pumpkin stewed as a side dish, bread, cakes, cookies, desserts, ice cream, as well as our products such as sweet and sour pumpkin, jams, pumpkin sauces for risotto and pasta, and pumpkin-flavored grappa.
All processed products are made from pumpkins that we produce ourselves, sown, cultivated, and harvested, strictly organic. It is a constant success, and rightly so, the Pro Loco takes pride in it, considering the consistency with which they are used in restaurants and the importance given by the media. Since 2011, the "Consortium for the Protection of the Santa Bellunese Pumpkin" has been operating, headquartered in Caorera, with Rosanna Zanella as president. This was necessary for the protection, enhancement, expansion, and commercialization of the product. Our product is marketed under its own brand, registered and recognized by the Chamber of Commerce to guarantee the uniqueness and traceability of the product. The Santa Bellunese Pumpkin is also listed in the National List of Agri-food Products of the Ministry of Agriculture. Our annual production is about thirty quintals, of which 12 are processed. The Pro Loco and the Consortium frequently participate in fairs held in the Feltre area, showcasing our products, always receiving broad consensus and feedback. If we think that twenty years ago pumpkin cultivation was almost abandoned and the product was used for animal feed, we can be proud and satisfied with the achievement we've reached.
