Valais Ham Brings Home the Bacon
Locally produced meats awarded special status
It's official - dried bacon and cured ham from the Valais region of Switzerland is to be given its own IGP (indication géographique protégée) label, to confirm that it is the real deal.
Inspectors from the association des producteurs de viande séchée (association of producers of dried meats) are currently visiting all producers to make sure that they are adhering to guidelines referring to the quality of their product and the method of production, to make sure that standards and traditions are being upheld. Certified items of the savoury Swiss charcuterie will be on shop shelves from the end of October.
The IGP label guarantees consumers that the ham and bacon they are buying does indeed come from the Valais region and is produced according to certain standards. The next step is apparently the establishment of a Valais "assiette" containing only certified regional products such as raclette cheese, rye bread and dried meats from the Valais region.
Look out for the label IGP next time you are eating out in Verbier.
