The Montasio PDO cheese’s Protection Consortium has reported a strong performance for 2024, highlighting the continued success of the Friulian typical cheese. Sales topped 780,000 wheels, generating €70 million in retail revenue, with demand particularly high for longer-aged varieties.
A standout is the Montasio PDO – Mountain Product, with over 70,000 wheels—9% of total output—bearing the PdM label. Produced in summer on the alpine pastures of Friuli from free-grazing cows’ milk, the cheese combines the centuries-old Benedictine monastic tradition of Moggio Udinese with the purity of the mountain environment.
Valentino Pivetta, President of the Consortium, commented: “These results reflect the ongoing dedication of our producers to crafting a cheese of excellence, rooted in our territory and made to the highest standards of safety and traceability.” He also unveiled a key research initiative: “Together with the University of Udine, we are studying Montasio’s health-promoting properties, aiming to provide consumers with scientifically validated information to support healthier choices.”
THE INTERNATIONAL AMBITIONS OF THE PDO MONTASIO CONSORTIUM
The Consortium is also pursuing growth beyond Italy. Montasio PDO has been part of the EU-backed project “PDO Excellence: A European Know-How” alongside Garda DOC, Crudo di Cuneo PDO, and Salame di Varzi PDO. The initiative promotes the quality and value of European agri-food products on the global stage.