New York, NY – The legendary pear of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region was the star of a tasting event for produce professionals that took place at Eataly NYC on November 13, 2014, from 6-8 p.m.
The specially-designed meal, prepared by Eataly NYC’s Chef Nicoletta Grippo, was a a gastronomic journey starting with a Prosecco and amuse-bouche reception, followed by a three-course tasting showcasing this versatile fruit, paired with Italian wines.
Long a favorite among European consumers, the slim, green-skinned, russet-tinged Abate Fetel pear from northeastern Italy is high in sugar with a white, aromatic flesh. It is considered a delicacy throughout Europe, served at Michelin-starred restaurants across the Continent. It became available in the United States in 2013.
The tasting event was sponsored by Organizzazione Interprofessionale Pera ( O.I.) , the trade group representing Italian pear producers, established to promote the pear sector, especially the Abate Fetel variety, not only in Italy but also in export markets worldwide. The Eataly NYC event, focused on the Abate Fetel pear, comes in advance of the variety’s arrival in U.S. points of sale.
At approximately 300,000 tons annually, Italy is the largest European producer of the Abate Fetel pear, and is Europe’s largest producer of fresh fruits and vegetable overall, making it a key player in the global produce market.
Members of the produce trade and the food media were invited to attend the tasting event. For further information, please contact Karen MacKenzie of the MacKenzie Agency at mackenzie@mackenzieagency.com.
About Abate Fetel PGI Pears
Virtually 100% of Europe’s Abate Fetel pears are grown in the relatively small Emilia-Romagna region, a eequirement for the coveted protected geographic indication (PGI) designation. Available from September to April, the pear’s russet coloration, flask-like shape, rounded base, and elongated neck give it a distinctive appearance. The pear is prized for its sweetness, juiciness, and considerable nutritional value. In addition, the Abate Fetel PGI pear can only be harvested at a specific stage of maturity and can only be sold when it achieves a specific sugar content, ensuring that every pear sold at retail meets the standards for quality and freshness.
About OI Pera
“OI Pera” is an inter-professional organization involving every link in the Italian pear production process. One of its missions is to achieve product reinforcement through its participation in trade shows, events and conferences both in Italy and abroad, and to carry out or commission the kind of surveys necessary to orientate production towards the kinds of produce demanded by the market. OI Pera contains operators from various phases in the pear production process: its includes representatives of producer organizations (OPs), their associations (AOPs) and professional agricultural organizations, but also companies dealing with distribution and sales and on to private or cooperative pear processing companies and their associations.
Notching up 830,000 tons of pears produced per year (including 300,000 tons of the Abate Fetel variety), Italy is the most important pear-growing nation in Europe. And every year, it exports no less than 150,000 tons of pears.
For more information about Abate Fetel pears from Italy:
Organizzazione Interprofessionale Pera
Via Bologna 534
44124 Ferrara (Italy)
T. +39-0532904511
F. +39-0532904520
E. oipera@csoservizi.com
Source: Organizzazione Interprofessionale Pera ( O.I.)
