The mayor of Cieza spoke these words at the first labeling ceremony for the Romea and Baby Gold 6 varieties of Cieza Peach with the PGI, which took place this Monday at the Thader Cooperative. Pascual Lucas was accompanied, among others, by the Minister of Agriculture of the Autonomous Community of Murcia, Antonio Luengo; the Minister of Agriculture at Cieza City Council, Antonio Moya; and the President of the PGI Regulatory Council, Manuel Ruiz.
The first product labeling with the "PGI Melocotón de Cieza" seal certifies the product's distinctive quality and can be used nationally, once final approval has been received, and internationally once the relevant European Union certification has been obtained.
Two peach varieties are included in the Protected Geographical Indication, specifically Baby Gold 6 and Romea, whose annual production is expected to exceed 12 million kilos. The PGI also covers growers in the municipalities of Cieza, Abarán, Calasparra, and Jumilla.
The mayor of Cieza explained that "the first labeling of the Cieza Peach PGI for its two varieties, Romea and Baby Gold 6, is the result of a long and arduous journey spanning many years, during which the Cieza City Council and the local agricultural sector have worked together to obtain all the necessary permits, analyses, and reports. The results were warmly welcomed by the Autonomous Community of Murcia, which has supported all the work done. Now it remains to finalize the management of the PGI in Brussels; we are very close to obtaining international certification for these two products, which will open up a huge range of quality products that will lead to other peach varieties from Cieza also being incorporated into the PGI."
For his part, Manuel Ruiz, president of the regulatory council for the Cieza peach PGI, stated that "this first labeling was the ultimate goal for Cieza producers and culminates many years of hard work; it's a milestone."
The municipality of Cieza is the largest peach producer in Europe, with an irrigated cultivated area of 5,861 hectares and a crop volume of around 180 million kilos annually.
The Regulatory Council of the Protected Geographical Indication Melocotón de Cieza is the body responsible for regulating the actions of the agents assigned to this quality seal and ensuring its compliance.
The publication on May 28 in the Official State Gazette of the Order of May 6, 2021, of the Ministry of Water, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Environment, granting transitional national protection to the Protected Geographical Indication "Melocotón de Cieza", enabled the marketing of the two varieties of yellow peach - Baby Gold 6 and Romea - in the national territory pending final approval by the European Commission.
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