The idea of establishing a European Artisanal Gelato Day was born in 2008, thanks to the initiative of the then president and director of Longarone Fiere, home of the historical MIG – International Gelato Exhibition. On December 1 of that year, during MIG, they asked Italian MEP Iles Braghetto, who had inaugurated the event, to support an initiative to bring gelato into the European Parliament.
Following several discussions with Braghetto’s team, Longarone Fiere scheduled the first European Artisanal Gelato Day for March 24, 2009, in Strasbourg, during the European Parliament's plenary session week.
However, Longarone Fiere alone was not considered representative of the industry. To gain official recognition, the support of ARTGLACE (Confederation of European Artisanal Gelato Associations) and UNITEIS (Union of Italian Artisanal Gelato Makers in Germany) was enlisted.
The first celebration was held on March 24, 2009, at the European Parliament, with a conference featuring Italian MEPs, gelato artisans, representatives of trade associations, and mayors from Longarone and surrounding towns. Among the speakers were Longarone Fiere President Giovanni De Lorenzi, ARTGLACE President José Luis Gisbert Valls, and UNITEIS President Dino Dall’Anese. The event concluded with a popular gelato tasting organized by UNITEIS artisans.
In the years that followed, Longarone Fiere continued to promote the initiative with support from MEPs Giancarlo Scottà (2010) and Antonio Cancian (2011). That year, the event returned to Strasbourg and received backing from MEPs from Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Italy, all voicing support for an official EU-wide recognition.
A pivotal figure in organizing the events was Fausto Bortolot, Vice President of both ARTGLACE and Longarone Fiere, who managed to serve fresh artisanal gelato inside the European Parliament despite strict institutional protocols.
In 2012, ARTGLACE President Ferdinando Buonocore reached out to Campania MEP Sergio Silvestris, who significantly advanced the initiative by securing the backing of fellow MEPs Paolo De Castro, Eva Ortiz Vilella, Ewald Stadler, and Andreas Mölzer. These members co-signed a declaration aiming for the formal establishment of the Day.
Thanks to their efforts, the required quorum was reached on July 5, 2012, with 387 votes in favor. The European Parliament officially declared March 24 as European Artisanal Gelato Day, with the following rationale:
- Recognizing artisanal gelato as a high-quality and safe dairy product that promotes the agri-food traditions of individual EU member states.
- Supporting a sector that employs around 300,000 people, especially young workers, across over 50,000 gelato shops in Europe.
- Encouraging Member States to value artisanal gelato production as a key economic and cultural resource.
- Establishing March 24 as the official date to promote and celebrate this excellence of European gastronomy.
From Idea to Reality: The First Official Celebration
Longarone Fiere Dolomiti celebrated the news with great enthusiasm. President Oscar De Bona praised the efforts of the European Parliament, ARTGLACE, and its leadership — Buonocore, Bortolot, and their team — for their tireless commitment to securing this recognition for a symbol of Made-in-Europe food quality.
On October 2, 2012, ARTGLACE convened the first official planning meeting in Longarone to organize the first European Artisanal Gelato Day, scheduled for March 24, 2013. The event drew broad support from artisan gelato associations, equipment and ingredient manufacturers, and specialized media.
Longarone Fiere also created the official logo and poster, adapted into every European language, emphasizing that the initiative had no legislative aims but was purely promotional — designed to spotlight a sector that guarantees food quality, supports local economies, and relies on short, sustainable supply chains.
A Key Initiative: The "Flavor of the Year"
One of the most successful ideas launched by ARTGLACE for European Artisanal Gelato Day is the "Flavor of the Year" — a themed recipe selected annually to engage the public and gelato shops throughout Europe.
This tradition began in 2013 with the first official celebration, featuring "Stracciatella d’Europa". Since then, each year has honored a different country with a dedicated flavor:
- 2015 Austria – Chocolate of Austria
- 2016 Belgium – Poire Royale
- 2017 France – Framboise Melba
- 2018 Germany – Black Forest
- 2019 Italy – Tiramisù
- 2020 Netherlands – Strawberry Yogurt Swirl
- 2021 Spain – Mantecado
- 2022 Europe – Sinfonia d’Europa (winner of a contest at MIG)
- 2023 Austria – Apfelstrudel
- 2024 Belgium – Gaufre de Liège
Each flavor is prepared following traditional techniques using high-quality, local ingredients — embodying the values of sustainability, craftsmanship, and European culinary diversity.
To learn more or participate in the celebration, visit the official site www.gelato-day.com and follow #GelatoDay on social media.