France: Languedoc extra virgin olive oil receives PDO certification

Languedoc extra virgin olive oil from France has received a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certification from the European Commission. The French olive oil was added to the European Union’s geographical indications (GI) register for food products under Huile d’olive du Languedoc on October 31st, after the application was submitted to the Commission in December 2020. The commission specified that Languedoc is a multivarietal olive oil chiefly produced from olives of the Lucques and Olivière varieties or a blend of the two with other traditional local olive varieties. Each main variety must account for no more than 70 percent of the oil. “Languedoc olive oil is now officially recognized as a protected designation of origin (PDO),” a press release by the French National Institute of Origin and Quality (INAO) said. ​“This recognition values the practices developed over time by local olive growers.” “[The oil] is characterized by aromas of tomato and almond, sometimes ...