Italy showcases food excellence at New York trade fair and Sardinia honey festival

At the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York, Italy’s pavilion featured more than 300 companies—about 10% of all exhibitors—highlighting the country’s leadership in the agro‑food sector. The opening ceremony was attended by Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, ICE president Matteo Zoppas, Ambassador Marco Peronaci and other officials, who stressed Italy’s growing export market, now up nearly 4% this year, and the recent UNESCO recognition of Italian cuisine as intangible cultural heritage.

In Sardinia’s village of Villanova Monteleone, the “Giornate del Cibo” event placed honey at the centre of its program. Experts Emilio Fois and Christian Fadda guided attendees through sensory tastings of regional honeys such as asphodel, cardoon, eucalyptus, erica and corbezzolo. Chef Fabio Zago paired the honeys with innovative dishes, and a museum of apiculture displayed historic hives from around the world. The weekend also featured a photography exhibition on Sardinian biodiversity and a showcase of local pasta and desserts, supported by municipal and commercial partners.