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From May 4th to 6th, the Castle of Rocca Cilento in the province of Salerno will host the first edition of the Olivitalymed festival, dedicated to extra virgin olive oil and Mediterranean tastes.
The charming building dates back to the end of the ninth century and offers spectacular views of the Alento River valley. It will host a complete program of tastings, masterclasses and conferences on health, tourism, catering and the industry’s future.
We imagine Olivitalymed as a round table with the various stakeholders… where we can discuss and take action on the current challenges and the future of extra virgin olive oil.- Stefano Pisani, mayor, Pollica
Attendees will have the opportunity to taste some of the best Italian extra virgin olive oils, paired with other premium agri-food products, including bread, vegetables, seafood and desserts, including gelato, accompanied by cocktails.
Furthermore, producers can meet buyers from different countries.
See Also:Uruguay to Host Conference on Olive Oil Sector Research, InnovationThe three-day event came to fruition due to the collaboration between local institutions and leading industry organizations.
In the press release issued to mark its launch, the organizers announced the presence of many key players in the sector. Given the project’s high profile, they emphasized that Olivitalymed aspires to become a reference event for experts and enthusiasts who want an all-around sensory experience.
“Olivitalymed has the ambition to be an event capable of gathering productions and people who make extra virgin olive oil great,” said the Sgueglia family, the venue’s owner and organizer. “It is a sort of hub capable of satisfying the needs of experts without forgetting to offer this precious product to enthusiasts and beginners.”
“For us and all our collaborators, it also represents the opportunity to realize the dream of the head of our family, Stefano, who recently passed away,” they added. “He is the true creator of this event, which takes place in Cilento, the birthplace of the Mediterranean diet.”
In this scenic corner of Campania, Ancel Keys conducted his research and, with the Seven Countries Study, laid the foundations of the Mediterranean diet.
Representatives of the Mediterranean Diet Emblematic Communities will attend the event. The task force is comprised of the seven communities of Brač and Hvar in Croatia; Agros in Cyprus; Koroni in Greece; Chefchaouen in Morocco; Tavira in Portugal; Soria in Spain; and the coordinator of the group, Pollica in Italy, which support and promote the Mediterranean diet, recognized on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
“It is important for us to contribute to the first edition of this event, and we are eager to continue working with Olivitalymed,” Stefano Pisani, the mayor of Pollica, told Olive Oil Times. “It is an ideal place to discuss the future of extra virgin olive oil, a staple of the Mediterranean diet, and how we can support the areas where the olive tree is present and must be protected.”
“In our last meeting, we talked about the impact of climate change on the extra virgin olive oil and what actions need to be taken in the current context to carry out the olive tree cultivation in the emblematic communities,” he added. “Besides considering the quality and usefulness of the extra virgin olive oil, it is now fundamental to analyze this aspect because the Mediterranean diet also has an intrinsic environmental value to be safeguarded, representing a true model.”
“We imagine Olivitalymed as a round table with the various stakeholders, including institutions, companies, consumer associations and health bodies, where we can discuss and take action on the current challenges and the future of extra virgin olive oil,” Pisani concluded.
The event website has information on the program.
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