“With 26 million euros of value, Puglia ranks first in the ranking of the Italian DOP Economy of the DOP and IGP extra virgin olive oil supply chain, with exports marking a leap of 23%, a prestigious performance for the largest green factory in Southern Italy". She highlighted it Coldiretti Puglia, based on the Ismea Qualivita 2023 Report and Coeweb Istat data, on the occasion of the comparison organized by Unaprol Italian Olive Consortium and Coldiretti ad Enoliexpo on the sustainability and competitiveness of the olive oil supply chain which recorded extraordinary public participation.
“The value of Italian Evo oil is known throughout the world for its organoleptic, nutritional, functional and landscape qualities. This is why it cannot cost 3 euros per bottle and this is why despite the price increase in 2024 - he stressed the president of Unaprol, David Granieri - Consumption of Italian extra virgin olive oil grew by 3%, demonstrating that consumers appreciate the quality and traced product made in Italy".
About seed oil based condiments "we have raised our guard against those commercial initiatives which, in the current market context, can induce further confusion in consumers, directing them to purchase "not very sustainable" products whose origin and traceability are unknown, as well as the quality of the product itself. product", Granieri insisted in underlining that “We also ask for attention for the spread of “oil-based condiments”, based on other vegetable oils, “a phenomenon that led us to request urgent clarifications from both MASAF and ICQRF on the analytical methods envisaged for the analysis of the congruity of these condiments with respect to what is declared on the label and that they are clearly separated on the shelves from the bottles of Evo oil, which is a food - and not a condiment - at the basis of the Mediterranean diet", concluded Granieri.
“The law enforcement action is important in a situation where 3 out of 4 bottles consumed in Italy are foreign”, he added the president of Coldiretti Puglia, Alfonso Cavallo in underlining that “table fraud is a particularly heinous crime because it puts people's health at risk, is based on deception and especially affects those with reduced spending capacity and are forced to turn to low-cost food”.
To be defended - continues Coldiretti Puglia - a unique biodiversity heritage in the world with the olive tree in Puglia which is present on over 370 thousand hectares of cultivated land where 5 DOP extra virgin olive oils and 1 IGP Puglia oil are also produced, with Apulian olive growing which is the largest green factory in Southern Italy with 60 million olive trees, 40% of the surface area of the South, almost 32% national and 8% community and a value of 1 billion euros of GRP (Gross Salable Production) of extra virgin olive oil.
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