BRA, Italy, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- A consumer group said it's trying to save Italy's historic small cheese producers, who are being squeezed by larger operations and smaller profit margins.
The group, Slow Food, is staging a "Save a Cheese" event this week in the northern city of Bra with the aim of increasing awareness for the plight of Italy's many small-scale, unique cheese makers -- and their traditional role in Italian cuisine.
The group said the many varieties of Italian cheese -- the processes for which have been culled for centuries -- are in danger of falling by the wayside with the easy availability of mass-produced cheese, and the difficulties of getting locally made products into large chain retail stores, ANSA news agency said Friday.
The event in Bra will feature more than 150 varieties of cheese and wine pairings. Event organizers said 10,000 hotel rooms have been booked in the area for the event.
