Protecting the Quality and Tradition of the White Fig of Cilento PDO

Protecting the quality and tradition of the White Fig of Cilento PDO, promoting it on national and international markets, but also making it an intangible asset to attract tourists and lead them to learn about its production directly in the areas. These are the goals of the Consortium for the Protection of the White Fig of Cilento PDO; it was established at the Consortium's headquarters in San Pietro a Perdifumo. It includes fig farmers Aderico Venuti, Angelo Venuti, Giovanna Guariglia, Angelo Guariglia, Carmela Pecora, and Giuseppe Oricchio. Guido Ruocco was elected president; vice president Aderico Venuti. 'The establishment of the Consortium,' explains Coldiretti president Ettore Bellelli, 'represents an interesting opportunity for companies and the territory. Together with producers and processors/packers, we will work to promote a product of absolute quality and attract visitors and enthusiasts. Consortia are fundamental to protect, promote, and inform consumers about the PDO they represent. For Cilento, it is a historic moment: creating a protection consortium means giving quality, ensuring that the product is protected and above all that producers can work on new projects and promote an excellent product even more. Today, valued and shared, the White Fig of Cilento PDO can become the ambassador of Cilento.' 'We will intensify the protection of production by defending the protected designation of origin in Italy and abroad,' echoes president Guido Ruocco, 'the white fig, which is a unique product in the world, can now finally count on a Protection Consortium that certifies its origin and protects its quality.' The protected designation of origin PDO 'White Fig of Cilento' refers to the Dottato cultivar; the plants have characterized the Campanian landscape and in particular that of Cilento for millennia. Their introduction is attributed to the Greek colonists. Already Cato, and then Varro, recounted that dried figs were commonly used in Cilento and Lucania as a staple food for the workforce employed in fieldwork. The area of choice is Cilento, from the coastal hills of Agropoli to the Bussento at the southern limits of Campania. There are a total of 68 municipalities in the province of Salerno that are part of the production area of the PDO. Currently, with over 30% of the national production, Campania is the Italian region with the largest production of figs, 18,000 kg of certified product by Agroqualita on just under 100 hectares spread throughout the territory covered by the Production Regulation.