How Cioccolato di Modica PGI raised the bar of Geographical Indications

Mar 15, 20211 min read

The recognition of Cioccolato di Modica PGI as a Protected Geographical Indication has had positive effects for this Sicilian town, as much for the chocolate production district as for the tourism sector, which is seven years has gone from a receptive capacity of dozens of units to hundreds of active hotel structures today.

From Expo 2015 in Milan to the G7 in Taormina in 2017, the Cioccolato di Modica PGI Consortium has achieved important results. The work of the Consortium has in fact become an example for other important Italian food production districts. First and foremost that of chocolate by Turin, committed to the recognition of Giandujotto di Torino PGI. Recognition is now possible because the Modica Consortium has succeeded in having the EU Community Regulation modified, including chocolate among the eligible products.

“The production of Cioccolato di Modica PGI,” says the mayor of Modica, Ignazio Abbate, “is and will be a great opportunity for our citizen, starting with young people who want to work in the chocolate sector.”

Salvo Peluso, president of the protection Consortium says that “Cioccolato di Modica PGI is a social product, which must not remain a niche product. Amongst our future projects is the creation of scholarships to give young people the chance to be trained and then to start up in the trade. We want to give future entrepreneurs the chance to become our colleagues.”