Tropea's red onion a Made in Italy item conquering Europe

(AGI) Catanzaro, May 24 - The red onion from Tropea is garnering increasing success and appreciation in Europe as an Italian product of excellence, especially in France and Germany. 'Calabria's red gold' has anti-inflammatory and aphrodisiacal properties. Yet, most of all, it is of a superior quality, boasting 50 associated producers, with 240,000 tons produced in 2015 and a growing market on the Old Continent. The consortium that safeguards the Tropea Calabria IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) covers a farming surface of 700 hectares in a vast area running from Ricadi, near Vibo Valentia, down the coast to Amantea, near Cosentino, and crossing the province of Catanzaro. Hundreds of staff are employed in the gathering and packaging processes. All these numbers are destined to grow, given that 120 businesses are waiting for approval by the overseeing body to be added to the consortium based in Vibo Valentia. Since 2008, the year in which Tropea's red onion obtained its IGP, the consortium has endeavoured to protect the product from frequent imitations with actions to guarantee and control its origin. It promotes the red onion on a local, national, and international level, and promotes food education among young people through partnerships with governmental bodies and schools. It also implements communication and integrated development strategies based on market trends. Innumerable varieties of onion are produced in Italy. Tropea's onion, though it is not the most produced one, is the most widely-known one due to its qualitative characteristics. The soil and climate conditions of the production area, its unique genetic traits, and the traditions of its growers are the pillars of its physical, chemical, and organoleptic qualities. These characteristics include its sweet flavour, crunchy texture, and red coloration, which earned it the nickname of 'Calabria's red gold' among it producers and local experts. It is also a source of tourism, given that it draws attention to the city privileged by Calabrian beach-goers, Tropea. "The red onion of Tropea Calabria continues to represent a success both in Italy and abroad," the president of the consortium, Giuseppe Laria, told AGI. "It is an Italian agricultural product of excellence, a growing success owing to the constant efforts by the Supervisory Consortium for the Cipolla Rossa Tropea Calabria IGP, which has protected the product from counterfeiting and strives to develop its enormous potential." (AGI). .