At Christmas the Sardinians bring the island's products to the table

Two thirds of Sardinians will spend Christmas with their family and 80 percent will have on their tables more than half of the foods based on local products and linked to tradition.

This is the estimate of Coldiretti Sardegna which also examines the trends for New Year's Eve and Epiphany, occasions during which agritourisms will be popular.

For December 25th, Sardinians will consume meat and fish, seasonal vegetables and fruit, island wines such as Cannonau, Vermentino and more niche products. The main feature is the PGI Sardinian lamb served in the classic roast version but also with the many dishes cooked with seasonal products such as artichoke, potatoes or in gourmet recipes, even for first courses.

The suckling pig is also good, accompanied by fresh vegetables, legumes and mainly seasonal local products.

For starters, the preference is for cured meats and cheeses.

«The survey shows how once again the Sardinians prefer Christmas celebrations with the family and above all dinners and lunches featuring products from our territory - underline Battista Cualbu and Luca Saba, president and director of Coldiretti Sardegna - despite the economic difficulties of the people, in a moment that is still not easy due to the price increases that have occurred, for the holidays the desire to bring quality products represented by our excellences to the table has returned - they continue - the attention to local products is confirmed by the ever-increasing success of our Campagna Amica markets which also confirm how great attention is paid to the origin of our foods. From this too - conclude Saba and Cualbu - emerges the need to focus ever more strongly on the traceability of production".

Finally, on the cost front, according to a Coldiretti/Ixè study, this year Italians will return to spending an average of 115 euros per family for Christmas at the table, 10% more than for the 2022 holidays, marking a return to pre-pandemic levels, after three years marked by war and Covid. For the holidays between 2023 and 2024, the Coldiretti/Ixè study shows how Sardinians (together with Sicilians) will be more inclined to spend than other compatriots with an average of 148 euros per family (more than residents in the South (127 euros ) and the North West (109 euros) which are just ahead of the Center (105). And if Christmas 2023 sees Italian tables with an average of almost 8 diners, in Sardinia and Sicily the national record is broken with around 10 people together (the most “lonely” are the inhabitants of the North West with 7 guests).

(Unioneonline/ss)