The Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) of Sicilian oil has taken first place in Italy, overtaking the Tuscan PGI, which has always been at the top of the production of great extra virgin olive oils in the country. This significant data was confirmed by the certifying bodies, which recorded a production of one and a half million liters within the island’s olive oil supply chain, thus obtaining certification and protection of the denomination.
The news aroused great satisfaction among the 25 producers present at Sol, the international olive oil exhibition within Vinitaly in Verona, but also among the regional institutions of the agricultural world, in particular the Regional Institute of Wine and ‘Oil (Irvo) and the Regional Agriculture Department.
This record represents a strong sign of encouragement for all those who dedicate themselves to the cultivation of olive trees and the production of oil in Sicily, recognizing the designation of origin as a valid tool for protection and valorization. The president of the PGI Olio Sicilia, Mario Terrasi, expressed great satisfaction with the rapid recognition process started in 2017 and concluded in 2022 with the creation of the protection consortium. He underlined the importance of adhering to the Sicily PGI and respecting the production specifications as a seal of guarantee for the product.
This result is the result of Irvo’s commitment in recent years to the promotion of oil and must be an incentive to further highlight the distinctive peculiarities of Sicilian oils. Gaetano Aprile, director of Irvo, underlined the richness of olive biodiversity and production specializations that allow each dish to be paired with the right oil, confirming the unique and inimitable value of PGI-certified Sicilian oil.
