A chance to sample and purchase local produce in Zagreb’s main square.
From 16 to 18 October, Ban Jelačić Square in the very heart of Zagreb will become a big farmers market, with 77 farmers from all Croatian counties taking part in the first edition of the Winter Food Fair and Local Produce Exhibition, reports Vecernji List on October 11, 2015.
The fair will include small family farms which produce honey, olive and pumpkin seed oil, as well as organic farmers, and the stands will feature meat products, homemade garlic, goat cheese, turkeys from Hrvatsko Zagorje, and many other Croatian delicacies. The aim of the event, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and the City of Zagreb, is to facilitate direct interaction between producers and consumers, and to revive the tradition of preparation of food for winter period, which is an age-old tradition in Croatia. The whole event will also include a conference on food safety in the region.
“We have organized the fair in order to encourage positive vibes and the consumption of local food and products, and the City of Zagreb is the best partner for this, since the Zagreb market is the largest and the most important one for agricultural products originating from Croatian farms”, said agriculture minister Tihomir Jakovina.
The mayor of Zagreb Milan Bandić said that Zagreb has implemented a series of measures to help local producers. That includes organization of events which the producers can use to present their products and services, which supports and promotes the development of rural areas of Croatia and the preservation of age-old traditions. “In addition to culinary, tourist and economic impact of the fair, I am particularly pleased with the fact that we will demonstrate that the City of Zagreb and the government can successfully work together on any project”, said the mayor. He added that the fair was a great opportunity for the presentation of high quality products which are offered in Zagreb and Croatia.
The fair will be technically organized the Croatian Association of Young Farmers, whose president Jan Marinac pointed out that this will be a good opportunity for young farmers to gain new experiences.
