Vancouver – “Flavours of Italy”: CIA (Italian Confederation of Farmers) in Canada to promote high quality agriculture

Exports to Canada of Made-in-Italy agrifood products totalled 661 million euros last year. It is an emerging market that has been growing uninterruptedly for the last ten years, +64%, and that can further grow thanks to a free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada (Ceta) that is being negotiated. The Italian Confederation of Farmers organized a workshop, “Flavours of Italy: Value of Made-in-Italy Agriculture”, in Vancouver to promote Italian agriculture and, above all, in order to open up new trade avenues for associated businesses. The event, promoted by Comites and the Italian Cultural Centre under the patronage of our embassy, was attended by more than 50 “wine & food” buyers and distributors from the metropolitan area of Vancouver and Ho.Re.Ca. representatives from the British Columbia area. The event was officially opened by the Italian General Consul in Vancouver, Massimiliano Iacchini, who ensured “that the Consulate would offer all necessary assistance for the promotional initiatives of the Italian Confederation of Farmers (ICF)”. Twelve businesses affiliated with the ICF celebrated the important confederal initiative and presented a basket of Italian premium products: pasta and oil from Apulia, prosecco from Veneto, wine from Tuscany and Campania, cheeses from Calabria, and high added value niche products like pistachio nuts from Sicily, saffron from Friuli Venezia Giulia and organic jams made with native Ligurian fruit.
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