It's official: the Lari cherry has been granted IGP status (Protected Geographical Indication), becoming the 16th IGP in Tuscany and the 32nd combined PDO and IGP in the region. This designation is confirmed in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Tuscany maintains its position as a leader in Italy for the number of PDO and IGP labels for wine and food. This long-awaited recognition highlights the excellence of the Pisa territory. The 'Ciliegia di Lari IGP' is now the 146th Italian IGP in the food sector and the 324th among all agricultural geographical indications in Italy.
Eugenio Giani, President of the Tuscany Region, celebrated this achievement: "This is a triumph for Tuscany’s agri-food production and a well-deserved acknowledgment for this special fruit, which is the most anticipated of our spring crops and relatively early in the national landscape."
This recognition is owed to the dedication of the Lari Cherry Producers' Association, which includes many youth-led farms, and has been supported by the Region over the years. This opens a future of quality and new employment prospects, thanks to a production historically centered in the hills between Lari and Casciana Terme, now united into a single municipality."
The journey to obtain the IGP certification, which ensures origin and quality, was significantly influenced by the efforts of Tuscany's farmers, according to Stefania Saccardi, Vice President and Agriculture Assessor: "The production guidelines include a wide variety of cherries with a strong focus on biodiversity."
"The producers have incorporated older, more fragrant and aromatic varieties alongside more commercially common types, despite their delicacy. This recognition honors our territories' commitment to a cultivation that is now rare elsewhere but was once more widespread in the Lari and Casciana Terme area."
Regional Assessor Alessandra Nardini expressed her delight: "This is fantastic news, rewarding the hard work of the Lari Cherry Producers' Association, the Lari Cherry Committee, and successive municipal administrations. The Region has supported this initiative from the start."
"Today is a day of pride and new opportunities for our territory, which reaffirms its excellence in agri-food production. This new recognition also opens further avenues for tourism and economic development."
To download the Production Specification Document click here
Source: Pisa Today
Image: SL Fruit Service
17 Jan 2025
An impressive 59% growth in exports to the vast Chinese market has turned into a harsh “reality check. The excess supply has saturated the market and caused a 50% price drop, which no one had predicted. The situation has alarmed the Chilean industry of ambassadors in Asia.
07 Nov 2024
Area planted to cherry trees in the EU continues to decline slowly as old orchards are not renewed. In 2024, the production declines in Poland and Italy will push the overall EU output forecast down. EU consumption of cherries in MY 2024/25 is expected to increase.
26 Jun 2025
A study from Yantai, China shows that brassinolide application improves the storage of “Tieton” cherries, significantly reducing cold damage, weight loss, and degradation of visual and nutritional quality of the fruits during prolonged cold storage conditions.
26 Jun 2025
Meda cherries gain traction across Europe: trials in 12 countries, first harvest in the Netherlands, and over 1,200 hectares assigned worldwide. The project spans USA, Chile, South Africa and China, focusing on quality, earliness, innovation and agronomic sustainability.
