A golden couple of cheeses, symbols of the most authentic Valtellina and its traditions. Valtellina Casera DOP and Bitto DOP are the driving force of the area's economy, two DOP products that continue to grow in production values.
Driving growth is always Valtellina Casera DOP : with over 221 thousand branded forms and 16,598 quintals produced (+8.9% on 2023), the cheese that is an expression of the centuries-old know-how of the local dairies confirms itself as the cornerstone of the Valtellina dairy tradition. Today, the semi-fat dairy cheese has a turnover of 13.2 million (+10.3% on 2023).
Bitto DOP is recovering : after the contraction in production in recent years (-39% from 2019 to 2023 due to climate factors, production difficulties inherent in processing in the mountain pastures and generational changes), in 2024 it will rise to 15,431 branded forms (+24%), with a turnover of 26 million euros. Important results, underlined by Marco Deghi, president of the Consortium for the Protection of Valtellina Casera and Bitto .
CTCB has been operating since 1995 in the province of Sondrio to defend the uniqueness of Valtellina DOP cheeses, protect them from any imitation and promote them on the national and international market.
[…]
Since 1996 Valtellina Casera and Ritto have obtained the DOP: their production follows precise rhythms, standards and rules dictated by the production specifications, to guarantee the origin and
of the uniqueness of these cheeses. The certifying body to guarantee the consumer has been the CSQA of Thiene since 1998 .
[…]
Source: Il Sole 24 Ore – Lombardy