The oil Garda DOP confirms itself as one of the most appreciated Italian excellences, placing itself among the first 10 extra virgin olive oils with Geographical Indication of Italy in 2023. A result that testifies to the quality and authenticity of a unique product.
Quality niche
“The positive results are the fruit of constant commitment by Garda olive growers and millers, who work with passion and dedication to guarantee a product of the highest quality. The data provided by the ISMEA-Qualivita Report show us that Garda DOP oil is increasingly appreciated by consumers, who recognize it as a niche product, synonymous with quality and authenticity”Said Simone Padovani, president of the Protection Consortium, on the occasion of the presentation of the XXII IsmeaQualivita 2024 Report.
The numbers of the DOP
A DOP of small size, but with an extraordinary impact With just 783 hectares of registered olive groves to the Denomination, distributed across three regions and four provinces, Garda DOP oil continues to stand out as one of the most prized and recognised products in the Italian olive oil panorama.
Its strength lies in a centuries-old tradition, in the expertise of olive growers and millers, and in a unique territory that gives the product an unmistakable character. The data from the ISMEA-Qualivita 2024 Report confirm that, in 2023, Garda DOP oil recorded exceptional results, conquering the market with:
• a +45% increase in production value compared to 2022, placing it in seventh place among Italian GI oils;
• an increase of +47% in consumer value compared to 2022, placing it in fifth place among Italian GI oils.
Future goals
“As a protection consortium, we will continue with commitment to the promotion of this extraordinary product and the territory that generates it, where the wisdom of man has designed the shores of the lake for centuries, preserving its beauty and biodiversity” declared President Padovani.
The importance of Geographical Indications
The Ismea-Qualivita Report on Italian agri-food and wine production DOP, IGP and STG 2024 highlighted the crucial importance of Geographical Indications (GI) in the Italian olive oil sector. These not only ensure the quality of the product, but also represent fundamental tools for the protection of native cultivars and the valorization of the territories of origin. The 50 denominations of extra virgin olive oil (42 DOP and 8 IGP) represent 1% of the production value and 2% of the export value of the agri-food Geographical Indications sector in Italy.
The support of the Institutions
At the end of the event, the Minister of Agriculture, Francesco LollobrigidaSaid: “Despite the challenges still present for the sector, the Italian oil market has enormous growth potential. Extra virgin olive oil represents one of our most precious resources, and, even in a year characterized by production difficulties, the data from the ISMEA-Qualivita Report show how Italian oil is gaining ground internationally.”
