Much of the population of Rivalto, in the past, was peasant and laborer, at the service of large landowners. The fruit and vegetable production, at the time, was at the stars: cherries, columban grapes (sweet, with small grains that are left to dry at a hook hanging in the cellar), peaches, pears (the italian pere cosce was the quality most popular in Rivalto), plums, figs, khaki, artichokes (very used in cuisine, especially fried during the holiday days), tomatoes (useful for the pappa al pomodoro -typical Tuscan tomato soup- and the bruschetta -crusty bread with tomato, oil and garlic-), cabbage (for the traditional black cabbage soup), zucchini and so on.
Especially peaches of Berta, a quality of great peaches that you can broke in half with your hands (that is why these are called "spicchiarelle" from the slices). There were people who preferred the "Berta before" because sweeter, and those who preferred "Berta second" (name due to the different period of maturation). Peaches of Berta were the absolute protagonists, along with wine, during the Festival of Peaches and Wine, inaugurated in 1957 and lasting a few seasons, which rewarded the winner among the different local growers.
Especially peaches of Berta, a quality of great peaches that you can broke in half with your hands (that is why these are called "spicchiarelle" from the slices). There were people who preferred the "Berta before" because sweeter, and those who preferred "Berta second" (name due to the different period of maturation). Peaches of Berta were the absolute protagonists, along with wine, during the Festival of Peaches and Wine, inaugurated in 1957 and lasting a few seasons, which rewarded the winner among the different local growers.
The work in the fields had a seasonal character and was particularly hard at certain times of the year, such as at the harvest period when it was always involved the whole family.
In the summer, especially when the days were long and the peasants waked up at dawn to go to work the land, after lunch "they went to do the maggino", that means to go to rest. Fruits were collected in wooden boxes and, in the evening, loaded from a dealer in Chianni who went to sell them to market or to greengrocers in other locations and, on Friday, returning from the market, he was usual to bring fresh fish from Viareggio and Livorno.
In the summer, especially when the days were long and the peasants waked up at dawn to go to work the land, after lunch "they went to do the maggino", that means to go to rest. Fruits were collected in wooden boxes and, in the evening, loaded from a dealer in Chianni who went to sell them to market or to greengrocers in other locations and, on Friday, returning from the market, he was usual to bring fresh fish from Viareggio and Livorno.
The production of Wine and Oil, glory of the surrounding hills covered with vineyards and olive trees, represent a major source of livelihood. Among the main productions during the time, we mention the cellars and the oil mills of Cortesi, Falugi, Del Lucchese, Gotti. The wine and oil were sold in demijohns or tuns to private or mediators in areas of Volterra, Livorno, Pisa and Pontedera and were particularly requested by those who, during the war, displaced from their cities, had found shelter here.
With the passing of time, the cultivation of cereals became more intensive, until the appearance of the first agricultural machinery and tractors that gradually took the place of the work of animal traction and peasants.
But the resources of the surrounding fields are endless, rich of herbal for infusions and teas (chamomile, nettle, valerian), medical herbs (elderberry, dogwood, dandelion, lemon balm), aromatic herbs (rosemary, sage, calamint, marjoram) and flowers of field (among which the cyclamens), as well as the resources of the dense forests and woods, where, in addition to wood for fire or to be worked, the "masters of fire" built the typical carbonaie (conical-shaped mounds of wood) to get the charcoal. Going to the woods, you can easily find mushrooms, including porcini (more commonly called "morecci"), blackberries, strawberry, juniper berries and other wild delicacies. The woods of Rivalto are especially characteristics for chestnuts that give rise to the famous Chestnut Festival (or Brown Festival since the local chesnuts are called brown, in italian "marroni", for their quality) where "marroni" are proposed roasted, boiled (italian ballotte), in chestnut pie (italian castagnaccio) and in other traditional dishes.
Even today in Rivalto are the hives of beekeepers producing honey, mostly derived from the nectar of flowers and chestnut trees.
Also the hunt continues to give excellent results (wildboars, thrushes, hares, pheasants). It is not a coincidence that this is a passion rather widespread among Rivalto and Chianni that reaches its peak with the famous Wild Boar Festival of Chianni (in italian the Sagra del Cinghiale di Chianni).
The breeding farm was present, whether in domestic form (with chicken coops in the courtyards and rabbit hutches in the funds of houses) that in an extensive form (grazing sheep and cattle, pigs and calves, poultry houses of great size). The fresh egg to be holed with a needle and drinking or rabbits and chickens to kill for the holidays were always present.
For milk and cheese, people was referring to the local farmers and shepherds. Gregorio Capponi had the sheepfold at the gates of Canapaia, during summer he brought to graze sheeps at Pianone in Poggiopiano and produced tasty artisanal cheeses (pecorino, ricotta, raveggiolo).
Silvana Matteoli, every morning, sometimes accompanied by her sons, came down with her tractor from I Poggi and acrossed the borough by visiting homes to bring, in the characteristic aluminum bins, fresh milk for the breakfast of the younger ones: it was not only the delivery of the milk, it was a time of celebration, laughters and jokes that only her cheerful presence and her voice knew how to animate.
Silvana Matteoli, every morning, sometimes accompanied by her sons, came down with her tractor from I Poggi and acrossed the borough by visiting homes to bring, in the characteristic aluminum bins, fresh milk for the breakfast of the younger ones: it was not only the delivery of the milk, it was a time of celebration, laughters and jokes that only her cheerful presence and her voice knew how to animate.