Italian municipalities grant De. Co. status to traditional local products

Local authorities in Italy are implementing municipal denomination (De. Co.) protections for traditional agricultural products to preserve regional heritage and quality standards.

In the Vimercate area, the municipal council approved the production regulations and logo for the ‘Patata di Oreno’ (Oreno potato). This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Parco Agricolo Nord Est, establishes specific rules for soil selection, fertilization, and harvesting to ensure the product's authenticity. The certification is expected to be highlighted during the upcoming 31st Potato Festival in September.

Similarly, in the Bologna region, the ‘Cardo in buca’ (also known as Cardo di fossa) has been officially recognized under the De. Co. Bologna system. Produced by the Mauro Gualandi agricultural farm using traditional methods, the vegetable is matured in underground pits to protect it from light and cold. This process enhances its tenderness and flavor, preserving a cultivation technique that had become increasingly rare in the local area.