Çizik Zeytini table olives from Turkey have received a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certification from the European Commission.
The Turkish olives were added to the European Union’s geographical indications (GIs) register under the name Edremit Körfezi Yeşil Çizik Zeytini (Edremit Bay Green Scratched Olives) on December 4th after the application was submitted to the European Commission in April 2018.
Çizik olives are cylindrical, medium-sized fruit of the popular Turkish Edremit cultivar (also known as Ayvalik) from trees grown in five districts in Turkey’s Edremit Gulf region in the northeastern Aegean Sea.
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According to the application, the typical Mediterranean climate in Edremit Gulf, with mild winters and hot summers, combined with the area’s geological features, has led to the formation of deep, alkaline soils rich in plant nutrients and suitable for olive tree growing.
“We are very happy that the application we made in 2018 was successful and Edremit received the E.U. geographical indication for the second time,” said Ahmet Çetin, president of the Edremit Chamber of Commerce, which carried out the application process.
“I believe that the recognition of our olives in Europe will increase,” he added. “I hope it will be beneficial to our producers, industrialists and consumers in Turkey.”
Last July, the area’s extra virgin olive oil also received a PDO certification from the E.U.
After the harvest, Çizik olives are scratched and undergo a process of natural fermentation of at least six months to discard most of their bitter oleuropein and become edible.
Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
A Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) is a type of geographical indication (GI) that identifies a product as originating from a specific geographical area and having qualities or characteristics that are essentially attributable to its geographical origin. The PDO designation is a legal label that is used to protect the names of products that are truly unique to a particular region.
Oleuropein is only one phenolic compound contained in olives and the most common during harvest time.
A certain degree of bitterness remains in the fermented Çizik olives as a sign of authenticity and freshness. Tastes of thyme, bitter almond, artichoke and lemon rind characterize Çizik olives, while their aroma is reminiscent of the scent of spring flowers.
Olive growers and producers based in the Edremit Gulf region also welcomed the GI recognition, stressing the importance of a European quality label for gaining recognition in global markets.
“E.U. registration is a proud development,” said local producer Nermin Gökduman. “It is very valuable to introduce our country’s valuesto the world through a geographical indication. I believe both the recognition and sales of our green scratched olives will increase, just like our Edremit olive oil.”
Çizik table olives, along with Milas Yağlı and Gemlik olives, are the three table olive varieties grown in different olive-producing regions of Turkey, which carry the European PDO label, signaling their quality and origin to consumers.
Another three Turkish table olive varieties (Aydin Memecik, Milas Çekişke and Tarsus Sarıulak) are awaiting approval from the commission to register as PDOs.
Non-European product names can register as GIs through a bilateral or regional agreement between their country of origin and the European Union.