The Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Olio Lucano, reserved for extra virgin olive oil produced in the Italian southern region of Basilicata, also known as Lucania, has been registered and published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
In three months, if there is no opposition, the European Union will publish the registration regulation which will entitle Lucanian producers to use the IGP Olio Lucano mark for their productions. In the meantime, the IGP Olio Lucano Consortium will be able to use the quality mark on a provisional basis with the approval of the Agriculture Ministry.
Extra virgin olive oils bearing the PGI must be made from at least one of about thirty olive varieties grown in the region:
Acerenza, Ogliarola del Vulture, Ogliarola del Bradano, Maiatica, Nociara, Ghiannara, Augellina, Justa, Cornacchiola, Romanella, Carpinegna, Faresana, Sammartinengna, Spinoso, Cannellina, Cima di Melfi, Fasolina, Fasolona, Lardaia, Olivo da mensa, Orazio, Palmarola, Provenzale, Racioppa, Roma, Rotondella, Russulella, Scarpetta, Tarantina, Coratina, Frantoio and Leccino.
No more than 20 percent can be comprised of other varieties. All stages of the PGI production process, namely, cultivation, harvesting, and extraction, must take place within the Lucanian territory.
“This is a very important recognition and we look forward to the definitive publication,” the president of Basilicata’s producer organizations, Claudio Cufino told Olive Oil Times. “We established our association in the run-up to the PGI, which represents only the formal part of the quality path taken by the Lucanian producers over the last years.”
“This mark of origin is not a point of arrival but a starting point, the beginning of a series of actions that will strengthen the protection and promotion of our product in our country and worldwide. Moreover, the good outcome of the last campaign – in the 2019/20 crop year, the regional olive oil production more than quadrupled compared to the previous one – fires us with enthusiasm as we start a new season in the sign of quality.”
More articles on: Protected Geographical Indications, Protected Designation of Origin, olive varieties
May. 31, 2022
Meet the Driving Force Behind the Success of Montenegrin Producers at NYIOOC '22
Ćazim Alković helped growers and producers in the small Balkan state earn one Gold and two Silver Awards, the first in the country's history.
May. 9, 2022
Tourism Awards in Italy Promote Industry Innovators
The second edition of a national oleotouristic competition recognized the contribution of farmhouses, museums, producers and chefs to Italian olive oil culture.
Mar. 2, 2022
Former Fighter Pilot Steers Loopline Olives to the World Stage
On New Zealand's North Island, Stephen Davies Howard has taken advantage of the Mediterranean climate to produce award-winning olive oils.
Jun. 22, 2022
Greek Court Rules in Favor of Olive Producers of Messenia
The court ruled that only Messenian producers can use the term ‘Kalamata Olives’ to market their Kalamon olives.
Dec. 5, 2022
Growers in Xylella-Ravaged Puglia Assess a Delicate Harvest
Farmers who have followed the phytosanitary protocol are harvesting olives from trees where the infection has been brought under control.
Jun. 22, 2022
NYIOOC Wins Waylay Economic Woes for Producers in Southern Cone
South American producers from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay combined to earn the highest number of awards for the region since 2019.
Oct. 27, 2022
Xylella Spreads Beyond Buffer Zones in Puglia
The deadly pathogen is spreading less quickly as new technologies arrive, improving monitoring capabilities.
Jan. 24, 2023
New Law in Andalusia to Promote Organic Food Production
Many Andalusian olive oil producers are involved in what is described as a major push to expand organic farming in the region.