The Parmigiano Reggiano PDO Consortium recently joined the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) gala in Washington, D.C., underscoring calls for deeper Italy-U.S. ties amid growing geopolitical and trade challenges. Representing the interests of over 20 million Italian-Americans, the NIAF event drew around 1,000 guests, including prominent figures from politics, finance, and culture.
Nicola Bertinelli, President of the Consortium, led the delegation and met with Italy’s Ambassador to the U.S., Mariangela Zappia, and NIAF President Robert Allegrini (pictured, together with Mr Bertinelli). With the U.S. as Parmigiano Reggiano’s largest foreign market—14,000 tons were exported in 2023 alone, a 7.7% increase over the previous year—the Consortium is investing in an expanded American presence, opening a dedicated U.S. office on its 90th anniversary last July. Exports surged again in the first half of 2024, climbing 21.7% year-over-year.
Yet, challenges loom: Bertinelli voiced concerns over potential regulatory shifts that could restrict dairy imports and affect niche producers like Parmigiano Reggiano PDO, whose share of the U.S. hard cheese market remains under 5%. “The U.S. values Italian cuisine, and it’s crucial to communicate the unique value of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO—an artisanal, natural product with a millennia-old heritage. But we face the risk of trade restrictions that could inadvertently penalize high-quality producers like us,” Bertinelli stated. The Consortium “aims to work with the NIAF, Italian Embassy, and U.S. partners to bolster mutual recognition of premium products, laying the groundwork for a more equitable and sustainable transatlantic trade landscape,” Bertinelli said.