Italy is home to some of the most delicious foods. From flavourful cheeses to bold espresso beans, we're here to help transport your taste buds to the sun-kissed landscapes and vibrant culture of Italy with every visit to our markets. First, savour the world-renowned Parmigiano Reggiano, a true Italian masterpiece, aged to perfection in the heart of Modena. Then, indulge in the exquisite, delicate flavour of our Soleterra d'Italia prosciutto; crafted with our own premium quality Alberta pork and Simonini Italian family recipes and techniques. And finally, embrace the unmistakable aroma and taste of Lavazza coffee, a beloved Italian institution since 1895. Keep reading to learn more about this terrific triad and how you can enjoy them each on your next trip to Sunterra!

Parmigiano Reggiano

Sunterra’s longstanding passion for authentic Parm was heightened back in 2018. Through our existing relationship with the Simonini family of Modena, co-founders of Soleterra d’Italia, our team was introduced to the Ferrarini family — third-generation farmers and a wealth of knowledge in the world of cheese. Their farm provides milk to a Parmigiano Reggiano plant in a small village called Poggioli, with a spectacular facility that our team was fortunate enough to tour back in 2018. After seeing (and tasting) this iconic cheese firsthand, it was obvious that we had to introduce it into our markets. 

Today, we directly import about 250 wheels of this cheese to our markets every year, cutting out the need for any middleman and allowing food lovers across Alberta to enjoy it for a price comparable to that of a lesser quality “Parmesan” product. But you might be asking, why go through the time and effort of importing these cheeses all the way from Europe when we could source similar cheeses locally? The answer is simple: DOP.

Denominazione d’Origine Protetta (Protected Designation of Origin) is essentially a quality stamp of approval. DOP certification means that the product is the "real deal" and meets the highest standard based on a few requirements:

• The product is produced within designated regions resulting in certain characteristics.
• The ingredients and product come from a specific location that has been designated by the government to produce the food.
• Every part of the product is tested and tracked with serial numbers to confirm the exact origins and history of the product. 

Did You Know: 

DOP products are the only products that can have their exact name, too! For example, real DOP Parmigiano Reggiano is a far different product than the Parmesan cheese you’re used to seeing at the grocery store.

Click here to read our full feature story on Parmigiano Reggiano.

Click here to buy Parmigiano Reggiano online.

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Soleterra d'Italia Prosciutto

Soleterra d'Italia crafts salamis, hams and dry-cured meats using Alberta-raised pork from Sunterra Farms and their partner farms. Each product is made using the generations-old family recipes and techniques from our Soleterra d'Italia co-founders, the Simonini family of Italy. 

With its simple ingredients yet phenomenal flavour, Soleterra d'Italia prosciutto perfectly represents this collaboration of expertise. This dry-cured delicacy is made with only two ingredients: salt and high quality pork. Its melt in your mouth texture comes from an extended aging time of at least 12 months that allows it to dry from the outside in without needing as much salt as other cured hams. Enjoy it on a charcuterie board or canapé or crisped in the oven on a thin crust pizza.

Click here to buy Soleterra d'Italia prosciutto online.

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Lavazza Coffee

While you're browsing around the market, we encourage you to stop by our coffee bar and enjoy a delicious beverage while you shop. We don't serve just any ol' coffee; our customers deserve the very best, and that's why we only serve Lavazza.

With a focus on sustainable sourcing and carefully curated coffee blends, Lavazza has an unwavering passion for excellence that began at its foundation in 1895. The company was founded by Luigi Lavazza who would decide on a flavour profile and create it by blending different beans together to achieve the perfect taste — regardless of the time of year or harvest. This concept was revolutionary in Italy at the time, and decades later, this technique is still at the heart of every Lavazza coffee blend. 

Our coffee bar offers four different drip coffee options: light, medium, dark and decaf, so you can enjoy that sweet nectar any time of day. Our coffee menu also includes a wide range of espresso-based hot and cold beverages handcrafted by our dedicated baristas. So whether you enjoy a classic medium roast coffee on your morning shop or a sweet caramel blended crème on a hot summer afternoon, you'll find quality in every cup.