After Commandaria, kolokasi gets PDO, halloumi still waiting

After the Commandaria sweet wine, that is produced from grapes harvested only in 13 Limassol villages, the kolokasi, a vegetable grown primarily in the Sotira area, has secured Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), as well as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) product label from the European Commission.

This is the third Cypriot product to win both PDO and PGI deignation, following the recent approval of the Paphos sausage and the Agros sweet rose.

Agriculture Minister Nicos Kouyialis said in a statement last week that the PDO/PGI designation of a product creates real growth conditions for SMEs, new employment opportunities and the improvement of the living conditions in rural areas.

The government’s plan to protect rural products is being implemented, the Minister noted.

“The two characteristics of the cultivation of kolokasi, that is its excellent adaptability to the soil and weather conditions in the area and the techniques producers have developed and implemented, were highlighted in the application for kolokasi of Sotira to be designated as a PDO,” Kouyialis pointed out, according to the Cyprus News Agency.

Kolokasi is produced in the district of Famagusta, and more particularly in the villages of Sotira, Avgorou, Frenaros and Liopetri.

“Today’s registration is particularly important, as more and effective tools will be given to producers and bodies to further promote and advertise the product,” he added.

Other ‘native’ products, such as halloumi, the cured meats hiromeri, posyrti, sausage and lountza of the Pitsilia area and Agros rosewater are also pending PDO approval.