According to Agromariensecoop, an agricultural cooperative from the island of Santa Maria (Portugal) has requested the registration of Protected Geographical Identification (PGI) for melons produced in the country, with the objective to ensure "the protection and quality" of the product.
Ana Cristina Rodrigues of Agromariensecoop explained that the application for registration named Santa Maria - Azores, for the melon produced on the island of the Eastern Group of the Azores archipelago consists of an ad published on Monday by the Institute of Food and Agricultural Markets, which gives a formal start to a
process that lacks approval by European entities with jurisdiction in the matter.
"There are melons produced outside the island which are sold as such," he said, justifying the initiative with the need to "ensure consumers that their purchase was of a genuine product."
According to Ana Cristina Rodrigues, Santa Maria produces annually about 150 tons of melons, which are sold in the regional market and the continent.
Among the features of the melon from Santa María we make reference to "its high content of vitamin C" in the common melon peel, and its especially richness in minerals such as potassium, magnesium and calcium.