Among the European countries, Italy is the one that boasts more high quality brand products, agro-food products with the PDO, PGI and GTS denomination. Did you know that? This record has been obtained thanks to the agricultural companies that produce excellent quality excellences. Quality is increasingly requested on the tables of Italians and Europeans, who pay more and more attention to what they eat. This is combined with a greater sensitivity to the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity, so that the consumption of organic and zero km food is growing.
This is also translated into greater respect for producers. Knowing where it comes from, how it is made and who produces the food we buy at the supermarket is becoming a determining factor in purchases. And here is the importance of certifications: they serve to give guarantees to consumers, ensuring the traceability and safety of food.
Products with high quality brand POD, PGI and GTS
The PDO label refers to those food products with a “protected designation of origin”. The PGI, on the other hand, marks foods with a “protected geographical indication”. To these is also added the GTS label which indicates the “guaranteed traditional specialty “. The data presented by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food, Forestry and Tourism Policies reveal that our country touches 300 products.
We are talking, in particular, of about 100 fruit and vegetable products and cereals. Then there are about fifty cheeses including Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, Gorgonzola and Provolone. And then Pecorino Romano, Asiago and Fontina. The other half consists of fresh meat and its derivatives, and therefore Prosciutto di Parma and San Daniele, among many others. And you can’t miss the extra virgin olive oils. The value of these products bearing a certified European quality label amounts to over 6 billion euros. While the Italian regions with the most recognized brands are the Nordic ones: in the first place is Emilia-Romagna followed by Veneto.
Not to mention the wines
Furthermore, the Belpaese is famous for the nectar of the Gods. The wines produced in Italy are among the best in the world. We own 526 wines with registered marks of origin, out of a total of just over 800 all over Europe. The turnover exceeds 8 billion in production and 5 in export. Among the brands that indicate to the consumer the geographical origin of the wines there are the DOCG, DOC and IGT. Acronyms respectively of “Controlled and Guaranteed Denomination of Origin”, “Denomination of Controlled Origin” and “Typical Geographical Indication”.