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“Sicily's Orange Gold”: The Novella di Ispica IGP Carrot Takes Centre Stage at the “Pietro Piazza” Institute”

“Sicily's Orange Gold”: The Novella di Ispica IGP Carrot takes centre stage at the “Pietro Piazza” State Professional Institute for Gastronomy and Hospitality Services in Palermo with an exclusive gastronomic performance by chef Peppe Giuffrè

Today, at the “Pietro Piazza” State Professional Institute for Food and Beverage Services and Hotel Management in Palermo, the third of four seminars planned by the Consortium of the New Ispica IGP Carrot was held. A sensory journey through the aromas of southeastern Sicily and the’Culinary innovation with a unique product that challenges the conventions of plant-based cuisine. The event, curated by chef Peppe Giuffrè, has explored the versatility of this “new” root, known for its glassy crunch and intense freshly cut grass aroma. Far from common storage carrots, Ispica's excellence has become the common thread of a journey that has crossed’the full spectrum of taste, from savoury to sweet.

Chef Giuffrè focused attention on the transformation of raw materials through two original creations: the unmissable Sicilian cassata with young Ispica carrots in the “homeland of cassata”; Ispica d’Amare: a bold encounter between land and sea, where the mineral sweetness of carrot meets the saltiness of preserved sardine in a play of textures between anchovy velouté and Nocellara del Belice olive soil; Golden Carrot A contemporary dessert that elevates the root to a haute patisserie ingredient, presented as a light mousse paired with the pleasure of sheep's milk ricotta and an enveloping honeyed breadcrumb.

In addition to technique, the performance emphasised the concept of “zero waste”, demonstrating how every part of the Ispica Carrot – from the green tops transformed into aromatic pesto to the thin skins – can become an element of excellence on the plate.

“The Ispica Carrot is not a simple ingredient, it is the story of a sandy territory kissed by the sea” Peppe Giuffrè highlighted The aim is to dismantle the prejudice that sees it only as a base for sauces, elevating it to the absolute protagonist of the table.

The contracts were opened by Chair of the PGI Protection Consortium Massimo Pavan that in Reggio Calabria, within the scope of the Sixth edition of the “Review of Agri-food and Agri-industrial Journalism for the South” (an event sponsored by the Italian Agri-food Press Association), received one of the three premi riservati ai migliori Consorzi del Sud operanti nei settori agroalimentare e agroindustriale.

The Prof. Rosario Mauro, lecturer in Horticulture and Floriculture at the University of Catania, During his speech, he retraced the key stages in the history of the Carota Novella di Ispica, from the origins of its cultivation to the recognition of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), including the transformations in production areas and agronomic practices. Furthermore, Prof. Mauro illustrated the main contents of the production regulations, with particular attention to the sustainability of the sector and the enhancement of the territory, as well as the qualitative characteristics of the product – organoleptic, nutritional, and hygienic-sanitary – which stem from the inseparable link between the crop and its original environment.

“The aim – pointed out Prof. Mauro – is to provide consumers with a deeper understanding of a product that goes far beyond the status of a mere commodity: the Ispica New Carrot is an expression of a region, of a well-established agricultural tradition and of a distinctive nutritional profile, all of which make it a food of superior quality, capable of meeting the growing demands of a food market increasingly oriented towards healthy, traceable products rooted in their geographical identity”.

This vegetable with peculiar characteristics is being promoted by the PGI Protection Consortium through the project “The new carrot’Ispica IGP in Ho.Re.Ca.” funded by the Ministry of’agriculture, food sovereignty and forests (MASAF). The last of the four seminars will take place on May 14th in Ispica.

The Consorzio di Tutela IGP, which brings together all producers and packers of the Ispica New Carrot, will be present at “Tutto Food Milan 2026”.

 

Salvo Messina

Journalist ODG Sicily – card no. 70152

Mobile. 0338 6113548

salvo.messina4@gmail.com

Media Relations Manager Project “The Ispica IGP New Carrot in Ho.Re.Ca.”

 

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