Regional PDO and PGI products: the “Born here, appreciated all over the world” project continues

The catering sector in Emilia-Romagna is increasingly an ambassador for regional PDO and PGI products and a protagonist in their promotion.

The second phase of the multi-year project “Born here, appreciated all over the world” launched in 2022 by the Regional Department of Agriculture in collaboration with Apt Servizi Emilia-Romagna and Marr, a leading company in Italy in the distribution of food products to the world of catering, and which also saw the participation of the regional Enoteca.
The presentation took place today at the regional Enoteca, with the participation of the regional councilor for Agriculture and Agri-food, Alessio Mammi, the president of the Enoteca, Davide Frascari, and for Marr the sales manager, Antonio Giovanetti.

110 catering operators took part in four educational tours last autumn-winter in the places where some of the 44 PDO and PGI products from Emilia-Romagna originate, a European record in terms of number, with a production value of 3.6 billion (out of 8.5 at a national level). The operators had an overall experience of the designations of origin of Emilia and Romagna, visiting the production sites of culatello di Zibello PDO, salami felino PGI, Coppa di Parma PGI, squacquerone di Romagna PDO, Fossa di Sogliano PDO cheese, oil extra virgin olive oil from Brisighella PDO and piadina romagnola PGI, meeting and discussing the production processes with the producers and tasting the products, paired with wines from wineries in the different territories (including Lambrusco, Sangiovese, Albana, Gutturnio).
“It is very important to give value to our quality productions – comments Mammi -, which represent local culture and identity, jobs in the agri-food sector, second in terms of economic production volumes at a regional level, and good and safe foods. Thanks to Marr, to the restaurateurs who participated and to the other partners for their collaboration in this project which allowed us to get to know the territory and our products even better. The world of catering is fundamental for promoting Emilia-Romagna at the table and for highlighting the value of the Food Valley every day. There are an ever-increasing number of people who choose experiential tourism and consider food and wine as distinctive elements of the territory on a par with the landscape, the cities of art, the sea and the other opportunities that Emilia-Romagna offers. When we talk about food, we are not only referring to products necessary for our nutritional survival, but history, traditions and culture also come into play. Food becomes an opportunity to meet and build relationships; it is a cultural product in all respects.”

The four educational follow the first phase of “Born here, appreciated all over the world”, which saw, in Easter 2022, the involvement of 420 structures, including hotels and restaurants in the cities of art and on the Adriatic coast of Emilia -Romagna, selected based on the propensity to use regional PDO and PGI products and the vocation for tourist clientele), with the distribution of a special placemat with a map of regional specialties and a city map with QR code.
The code allowed access to a dedicated landing page, where you can learn more about regional, regulated quality and organic products, through video recipes and in-depth links.
Also supporting the Region’s promotional action is the Food Valley News newsletter, which every month tells several hundred followers about seasonal products, festivals and events dedicated to regional PDOs and PGIs.