Sorana bean

The Sorana bean is a type of cannellini bean grown near the Italian town of Sorana, along the Pescia River in the Province of Pistoia in Tuscany. Cultivation is limited to an extremely small microclimate area with conditions considered excellent for growing this type of bean, and production is low. Demand is high, and prices are six to ten times that of other cannellini-type beans. In 2002 it received Protected Geographical Indication certification from the European Union. It is considered economically important to the survival of agriculture in the Pescia Valley and because of this is believed to have helped prevent emigration from the area.