The European Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) list now has another entry – the Latvian gray pea, also known as Pisum sativum L., LSM's Latvian-language service reported Thursday.

The announcement by the EC reads that "the PDO Latvijas lielie pelēkie zirņi refers to the dried seeds of the local ‘Retrija’ cultivar of the maculatum variety of field pea".

According to the announcement, the main factors influencing the quality of ‘Latvijas lielie pelēkie zirņi’ are the local climatic conditions, soil characteristics and historical and human factors.

"Latvians have been pea eaters for centuries," stresses the announcement.

It goes on to report what these peas mean to Latvians: "Peas, barley and beans long constituted diet staples, and they remained important up until the introduction of the potato in the 19th century. Nowadays ‘pelēkie zirņi’ with bacon is referred to in tourist guidebooks as a specifically Latvian dish that is worth sampling."

Sklandrausis, a Latvian vegetable tart, as well as Latvian rye-bread are also on the list, as are lamprey eels from Carnikava.

An EC daily news announcement reads that on Thursday the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan, is in Riga, Latvia on an official visit.

He'll be meeting the Latvian President Raimonds Vējonis, the Latvian Minister of Agriculture Jānis Dūklavs and will meet several parliamentary committees of the Saeima.