After the world famous Italian cheeses, cold cuts, and PDO – PGI wines, also Italian certified pasta finally got the place it deserves. This is thanks to the growth of Pasta di Gragnano PGI. An authentic, guaranteed supply chain is taking shape for one of the great symbols of Made in Italy in the world. In fact, the results for Pasta di Gragnano PGI – that entered the register of European Geographical Indications just over five years ago – are impressive. Thanks to 21 recognized companies producing PGI pasta, the amount of certified annual production exceeds 30,000 tons in 2017 with a growing trend for 2018. Moreover, the production values showed a growth of +7.2% in the 2016-2017 period. The impact of exports on sales is considerable, accounting for 75% of certified production. Thanks to these results, Pasta di Gragnano PGI is the 11th most important product in terms of value among Italian PDO and PGIs and the third most important in the South (Source: Rapporto Ismea-Qualivita).
GRAGNANO PASTA AND THE ADVANTAGES OF PGI
To ensure growth in line with the historical quality of pasta makers in Gragnano there is CSQA Certifications which last November obtained the authorization to exercise compliance checks from the Italian Ministry of Agriculture. Among the novelties of the new control plan we can find an increase in both inspection activities and quality controls, to ensure the best certified PGI productions. “The added value given by the PGI and the imminent establishment of the Consortium for the Protection of the Gragnano pasta – said the President of the Consortium, Massimo Menna – has already produced positive effects for the Gragnano pasta. The recent collaboration with the CSQA certification body goes precisely in the direction of guaranteeing our product in order to protect consumers. This is our priority goal”.