An air of optimism was brought to the area of Pitsilia
by the registration of sausage and lountza Pitsilias in the list of EU-protected
geographic indications (PGIs). This is viewed as a major breakthrough for the region that is creating new growth prospects, with the
production of value-added products that will put the area on the gastronomic
map of Europe.
The
Secretary of the Pitsilla Association
of Producers of Traditional Meat
Products, Niki Kafkalia, expressed satisfaction with the European Commission's decision. Speaking to "Entrepreneurial
Limassol", she explained that
the effort had
begun in
2005, in parallel with the creation
of the Association, whose main purpose is to certify the
products, submit the relevant applications and draw up all the information
requested, for the traditional manufacturing method.
The members of the Association, who have taken on the
burden of promoting the relevant process over the last 16 years, are the "KafkaliaTraditional meat products "
in Agros, "Madari" in Kyperounta, "Vassiliou" in Pelendri and
"Dymes", in Dymes.
This registration, as well as that of the name Hiromeri Pitsilias in September 2020. Ms. Kafkalia noted, is very important because it
now provides the possibility of promoting these products, through one of the
most recognized standards of the European Union and protects them from imitations. The registration will
also increase demand and sales, making the local traditional meat products more viable, gradually increasing production -- and employees.
A
total of 10 Pitsilia producers
of Pitsilia will benefit from the registration, of
which three
are active in Agros, two
in Kyperounta, one
in Pelendri, one
in Dymes,
one in
Alona
and one
in Platanistasa. Exports are currently limited, Ms. Kafkalia noted, but action is
already being taken by the Union --
and by each company individually -- to increase their exports
through European programmes promoting
registered products. Next objective
is the registration of two other traditional products of the
region, posirti
and tsamarella.
