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Canino, in the province of Viterbo, an area of Italy called the Maremma Laziale just south of Tuscany, is home to a co-operative of market garden producers called C.O.P.A. Canino (Cooperativa Ortofrutticola Produttori Associati). Set up way back on 5th March 1976 by 9 trailblazing producers. 30 years have passed and C.O.P.A. is now a major figure in the local economy of Canino and surrounding areas and one of Italy’s main areas of asparagus production. C.O.P.A. suppliers have some 300 hectares of prime farming land, more than half of which are dedicated to asparagus, the rest being used to grow melons, watermelons, tomatoes, courgettes, potatoes, globe artichokes, cauliflowers, fennel, strawberries, peppers and aubergines.