There are so many souvenir shops in Jelsa and on Hvar in general. I assume, it′s normal in a tourism destination. People like to buy something to remember their holiday, to buy gifts for friends and family and like to send postcards. During my first years in Jelsa, I noticed there is too much of the imported souvenirs. They look all the same from Dubrovnik to Istria.
To my delight, there is more and more authentic local products being offered lately and it is really interesting to visit those little stores offering souvenirs as you can find hand-made magnets, soaps, local goodies from marmalades to liquors, olive oil and wine, even clothes, jewellery and much more.
Today, I came across an interesting new website for the Croatian Island Product Label (shared by one of the best information source on the island – Faros News). The site is dedicated to promote authentic products from all Croatian islands, including Hvar.
Here is a short info from the website about the Croatian Island Product Label:
“The Ministry of Regional Development and European Union Funds continues the implementation of the project related to visual marking of island products with the “Croatian Island Product” label initiated in the beginning of 2007 to encourage island producers to produce original and quality products.
Since the “Croatian Island Product” label has been awarded for the past seven years (the catalogue features the label-awarded products in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015), the initial intention of this project has been fully accomplished. The self-employed island producers have been encouraged to create products of outstanding quality and to remain on our islands, and in turn, the consumers have been able to try out and taste new products and assure themselves of their excellence.
In 2015 the “Croatian Island Product” quality label was awarded to 68 island producers for 111 products and production lines, whereas to date the label has been awarded to 219 island producers in total (including 18 eco-producers and 25 producers with the geographical indication mark) for 628 products and production lines from 23 islands (Brač, Hvar, Vis, Korčula, Pag, Krk, Lastovo, Dugi Otok, Rab, Cres, Lošinj, Prvić, Ugljan, Mljet, Šolta, Žirje, Pašman, Iž, Murter, Olib, Kornat, Rava, Silba) and Pelješac Peninsula. The products include foodstuffs (wine, brandy, liqueur, olive oil, cheese, confectionery, fish, salad marinades, jams and honey), cosmetic and clothing products and souvenirs.”
The site looks great, visit it here to find out more.
