What is behind D.O.P.?

What is D.O.P.?

D.O.P./P.D.O. (Denominazione d’Origine Protetta / Protected
Designation of Origin) defined by the European Union and is
connected with the specific geographical area that defines the
quality,taste and other singular characteristics.

Why is D.O.P important?

D.O.P. status was created by the European Union in 1992 as a way to ensure the quality and authenticity of the foods we consume, but also as a way to help promote those agricultural products and foods that have special value because of the way or place in which they are produced.

Sitia in Crete and Kalamata in Peloponnese are agricultural areas that produce products with Protected Designation of Origin D.O.P. Sitia, Crete and Kalamata accordingly and they have been defined and protected by the European Committee in order to:

- Give to farmers and producers a fair remuneration for producing higher quality products
- Provide a EU guarantee to consumers about the superior quality products they are eating.

What does D.O.P. guarantee?

• That the olive oil is produced in a specific geographic area.
• That the olive oil is pressed from a specific variety of olives cultivated in that area. The quality and organoleptic characteristics of olive oil depend on the climate and the soil.
• That the olive oil is pressed at less than 27oC.
• That the Ministry of Agriculture and the EU concur on the quantity of D.O.P. oil produced in a given year.
• That each bottle is numbered in accordance with a strictly monitored procedure.
• D.O.P. can only be an extra virgin olive oil of superior quality.

How do we recognize D.O.P.?

• By the EU symbol
• By checking the bottle number
• By looking at the production date on the label
•

Classifications of quality defined by the International Olive Oil Council
• D.O.P. Sitia, Crete: Fruity and aromatic World Champion in the category of intense fruitiness
• D.O.P. Kalamata: With a peppery flavor of fresh green olives