The Consortium can only gather producers and packers from the Assopa producer organisation, three cooperatives and six private traders. They have reunited to safeguard the quality and tradition of this potato variety, which is very important for the local economy.
Private companies and cooperatives are part of the Consortium together with producers - Apofruit Italia, Baschieri Rino, Cesac, Fuitem & Orsini Fruttaexport, Ortofrutticola Parma, Patfrut, Orsini Ercole, Pizzoli, Romagnoli F.lli.
The press conference held on February 1st, 2017 in Villanova di Castenaso (Bologna)
There are around 50 thousand hectares of potato crops in Italy - 11% are in Emilia Romagna (5,500 hectares), 2,150 hectares of which are in the Bologna province alone. 350 hectares are certified Pdo.
Around 1.5 million tons are produced each year - 210 thousand tons in Emilia-Romagna, 75 thousand of which are in the Bologna province. "11 thousand tons can be certified but we only sell 6 thousand, as the rest is sold as traditional potatoes otherwise it would not be absorbed by the market," reports President Alberto Zambon.
Becoming a consortium means involving the entire chain. Alberto Ventura, who followed the entire procedure, explained that "becoming a Consortium means guaranteeing a better quality and working as a single interlocutor with the public administration."
Gianluca Giuli, from Icqrf, explained that Icqrf is a "partner" for checks. "Our organisation is well-known. We carry out inspections to check the quality of food and agricultural products. In addition, we verify Italian products online, for example on Ebay, Amazon and Alibaba. We can have a fraudulent product removed in 48 hours. If a specific product is removed from an online platform, then the producer is also downgraded. We are the only ones to do so at the moment."
PresidentAlberto Zambon.
In addition, a new logo has been introduced - two potatoes that recall the two towers in Bologna. "No one can write 'Potatoes from Bologna' on a packet if they are not part of the Consortium."
Zambon added that "we need to talk with the buyers, they need to listen to us if we want to increase volumes. It is not easy to understand the difference of a Pdo product. Primura potatoes are perfect to make gnocchi, for roasting and for boiling."
The press conference held on February 1st, 2017 in Bologna
"Prices are quite good at the moment as people are more interested in certified products. The difference between Pdo and traditional products is 5-6 eurocents, i.e. 20-25%."
Contacts:
Consorzio di tutela patata di Bologna DOP
via Tosarelli 155
40050 Villanova di Castenaso (BO)
Tel.: (+39) 051 7821709
Fax: (+39) 051 782356
Web: www.selenella.it