THEMES

12. Our national quality products: oil, fruit, vegetables, milk, and cheese

Italy is a highly varied Country from the geographical point of view, but also from the point of view of the historical, political and cultural experiences of its people have had over the centuries and this has made it a Country that is extremely rich in diverse local customs and traditions. Thanks to their own skills but also often influenced by customs coming from other areas in the world, Italians have succeeded over the centuries, in developing their own production and gastronomic identity, which has no equal on earth for quality and variety. And this variety is not only the result of geo-territorial differences, traditional differences between north and south, between centre and south, etc.: the Italian production and gastronomic traditions change from region to region, from province to province, from town to town even, at times. And this highly varied tradition places Italy in a position of dominance when it comes to obtaining the so-called European quality labels: PDO, PGI and STG. Starting from this year, also wines that we have come to know as DOCGs (Appellation of controlled and guaranteed origin), DOCs (Appellation of controlled origin) and IGTs (Typical Geographic Indication) will all become PDOs and PGIs.

Actually, our governments have always had a firm and strong policy for the enhancement and the protection of the Italian agri-food heritage and have always supported the high quality of all categories of products, from bakery products to oil, from cheese to meat, from beer to vinegar, from beverages to fruit and vegetables and even fish. Indeed, having obtained a European label means that the product is a quality product and therefore recognition is given to the production skills and the highly sophisticated techniques of the agricultural producers. Supporting the quality policy means enhancing the precious work of our farmers, protecting our know-how and traditions heritage, safeguarding the environment, supporting the economic development of rural areas and guaranteeing the health of consumers.

It is precisely the consumers, the last link in the food chain, who benefit most from a determined and dynamic quality policy, because with label recognition, they are protected from possible counterfeit products, imitations and abuses and are free to choose a quality product rather than another that does not offer the same guarantees.

Since we live in Rome, one of the five Latium provinces, let's try to find out which Latium products have been granted quality labels.

Mozzarella di Bufala Campana cheese PDO
Pecorino Romano cheese PDO
Canino extra-virgin olive oil PDO
Sabina extra-virgin olive oil PDO
Pecorino Toscano cheese PDO
Pane Casareccio di Genzano PGI
Vitellone Bianco dell'Apennino Centrale PGI
Mortadella di Bologna PGI
Salamini italiani alla cacciatora PDO
Carciofo Romanesco del Lazio PGI
Kiwi Latina PGI
Ricotta Romana cheese PDO
Tuscia extra-virgin olive oil PDO

 

You may ask yourself why some of these foods are not of Latium origin: this simply means that in the production regulation recognition is given to the skill of the manufacturers in making these products even if they operate in production areas other than those declared in the name of the product.

At present the EU is in the process of approving the Soratte Extra virgin Olive Oil (PDO) and the Abbacchio Romano (PGI). Also the following products of the Province of Rome have applied for registration: the Terre Tiburtine Extra virgin Olive Oil (PDO) and the Porchetta d'Ariccia (PGI).