Melons from the Azores are to be awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status by the European Commission. The Meloa de Santa Maria – Açores label covers cantaloupes produced on the island of Santa Maria, characterised by their sweet juicy taste and high Vitamin C content.
The melons become the latest addition to the European Union’s list of 1,200 regionally produced foodstuffs to have been granted their own geographical protection.
Most of the 150 tonnes of Santa Maria melons produced each year are sold in the Azores and mainland Portugal. With a population of 5,500, Santa Maria is the oldest of the nine islands that make up the Azores.
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