Parma & its enterprises

FOOD INDUSTRY

• Dairy products, milk

T he production of the “Parmigiano” cheese is an ancient tradition, historical proof of which dates back to the time of the Etruscans and the Romans. But the most famous tribute to it is from the Middle Ages in Boccaccio’s Decameron. The use of this product also appears widely in treatises on cooking from the 15th and 16th centuries, as well as in the diaries of writers, diplomats and travelers from the 17th to the 19th centuries which came to know and appreciate this cheese during their time in Italy. The quality of Parmigiano cheese is not only the result of the way it is produced and aged, but it is also due to the geological characteristics of the terrain, the area’s climate, the rich fodder and special livestock- raising techniques. In fact, the area in which this cheese is made has remained unaltered over time, its boundaries carved out by natural rivers and mountain ranges; the methods used in its production, are likewise unchanged , guaranteeing the consistently high quality of this cheese. Further guarantee has also been provided since the early decades of the 1900s by the Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmigiano-Reggiano

Cheese Consortium), monitoring the product during the extended process that takes it from its zone of origin to consumption both in Italy and abroad to safeguard its authent ici ty and promote its sales and export the product’s. There are 144 active dairies in the province of Parma that produce approximately 1.296.615 wheels of the renowned “ Parmigiano-Reggiano – DOP ” cheese (2019). The milk and milk products sector is represented almost entirely by Parmalat (LACTALIS GROUP), the number one producer in the world of long-life milk and one of the most important for bulk, pasteurized, condensed and powdered milk (22% of the national market) as well as milk products such as desserts and yogurt (4% of the national market) while not forgetting that the same company is also a leading manufacturer of a number of other food products, such as fruit juices and nectars (11% of the national market).

23