Veronese Vialone Nano IGP: Mayors Discuss Future Projects and Rice Fair
Isola della Scala. A roundtable bringing together the 24 mayors from the area producing Veronese Vialone Nano IGP was held at Villa Boschi, serving as a preview to the rice fair.
Discussion on Future Projects
During the meeting between the 24 municipalities, the Province, the Chamber of Commerce, Coldiretti, and the Consorzio per la tutela del vialone nano veronese, the future of the local specialty product was discussed, focusing on two projects: promoting rice culture in schools and creating a rice route.
Following welcoming remarks from Mayor Liana Montalto to colleagues and other administrative officials, Maria Grazia Rancan, president of Coldiretti Isolana, outlined the first project aimed at enhancing the territory and its resources by raising awareness of vialone nano, its history, and its culture in elementary schools.
The plan involves the participation of experts, classroom lessons, sensory taste workshops, and guided visits to farms.
The second project has already been launched, as reported by Ernesto Artegiani, president of the Consorzio, with the establishment of a promotional Committee, aiming to create a gastronomic-cultural itinerary that highlights the cereal and the region.
Both projects are supported by the Chamber of Commerce.
The Role of the Rice Fair and Institutional Initiatives
“The rice fair becomes much more important,” said Claudio Valente, “if beyond the risotto, it is linked to a deeper message; the economy can be saved by preserving the culture behind it—tradition, history, and art.
In the 2002 budget, we will allocate some funds, hoping that the Region enhances a budget that only allocates 200 million lire for traditional product roads.” Support for initiatives related to rice also came from the Province; Albino Pezzini, Agriculture Councillor, urged municipal administrations to monitor “because,” he said, “we would not want international agreements to reduce rice production.”
“The Province,” concluded President Aleardo Merlin, “despite its limited responsibilities in the agricultural sector, promotes and supports all initiatives concerning typical products.”
Gastronomic Competition Final and Prizes
After the roundtable, the final of the fifth gastronomic contest “Risotto d’oro dell’IGP” was held, a competition among restaurants and trattorias from the 24 municipalities in the production area.
Twenty-six participants, five finalists: La Nuova Locanda Girasole of Zevio (basil risotto with scallops and crispy pancetta); Graziano and Loretta restaurant of Mozzecane (seafood and chanterelle risotto); L’osteria di Cerea trattoria (Buon Paese risotto with prawns, scampi, and zucchinis); da Laura trattoria of Sorgà (risotto with pork ribs); and Sofia trattoria of Ronco all’Adige (Sagran risotto with duck).
The final recipient of the “Risotto d’oro IGP” award was at this last restaurant, as determined by a panel of experts presided over by Giorgio Gioco. The popular jury, asked to choose among the five finalists, agreed with the experts and awarded Sofia trattoria.
A special prize for creativity went to Gino trattoria of Bovolone for its ostrich meat risotto.
