Grana Padano, a much-loved cheese with roots stretching back centuries to the clever Cistercian monks, boasts a fascinating history. As its production spread throughout the Po Valley in Italy, it became vital to shield this unique culinary treasure from imitations and ensure it met consistent quality standards. This article explores the origins and essential role of the Grana Padano Protection Consortium, the organisation that for 70 years has acted as the guardian of the authenticity and quality of one of the world's most popular Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) cheeses.
The Birth of the Consortium: Coming Together for Protection
The need for this protection became particularly apparent after the Second World War. On June 18, 1954, in the town of Lodi, driven by the trade associations Federlatte and Assolatte, the Consortium for the Protection of Grana Padano Cheese was established. Right from the start, it united producers, maturation facilities, and traders, all sharing a passion for safeguarding a centuries-old tradition, celebrating unique expertise, and protecting the cheese's originality.
Mission and Activities: A Guarantee for the Global Market
The Consortium's core aims are clear and crucial for anyone involved in the international food industry: to protect, promote, and enhance Grana Padano PDO both in Italy and across the globe. This involves:
- Vigilance: Implementing strict controls over production and trade to guarantee adherence to the traditional recipe and top-tier quality.
- Promotion: Carrying out promotional and advertising activities to build the brand and communicate its values.
- Research and Development: Conducting technical and market research to improve production and marketing methods.
- Legal Protection: Taking legal action to defend the designation against fraud and imitation.
The Journey to PDO and Official Recognition
The Consortium's role has grown stronger over time through a series of key milestones:
1955: Recognition of the Controlled Designation of Origin (DOC) in Italy (Presidential Decree No. 1269).
1957: Official assignment of the supervisory role through ministerial decrees.
1996: Recognition of the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) by the European Union (EC Regulation No. 1107/96).
This PDO mark is the ultimate assurance for consumers and international buyers: every wheel that's fire-branded adheres to the strict Production Regulations and possesses the unique characteristics rooted in its territory and history.
2002: Ministerial decree formally acknowledging the Consortium's functions of protection, promotion, enhancement, consumer information, and overall care for the PDO's interests.
The Consortium Today: Stability and a Vision for the Future
Today, the Grana Padano Protection Consortium represents a significant force, with 127 production companies, 137 dairies, and 148 maturation facilities operating across the extensive production area that spans 32 provinces in 5 regions of Northern Italy.
In Conclusion
For international buyers and food professionals, the Grana Padano Protection Consortium is an essential partner. It's the body that guarantees the authenticity, consistent quality, and traceability of Grana Padano PDO, providing solid assurances backed by decades of experience and a strong, forward-thinking organisational structure.
Continue to follow us on Gourm.it to discover more about the global success of Grana Padano. We're also delighted to welcome Latteria Sociale San Lazzaro, a superb producer of Grana Padano PDO from the Mantua region and a testament to the quality guaranteed by the Consortium, as a new member of Consorzio Gourm.it.