Feasting in the far north

CMA Supports Nordic Food Delights Gourmet Festival

Regional foods are very popular. A study by the CMA Centrale Marketing-Gesellschaft der Deutschen Agrarwirtschaft mbH last year showed that over 70 percent of those surveyed prefer food from their own region. And when it comes to gastronomy, guests are increasingly asking for something local on their plates. The “Nordic Pleasures of the Table” campaign picks up on these trends and desires; a joint initiative by the state of Schleswig-Holstein, local restaurants and the CMA. As part of this campaign, selected upmarket restaurants serve the best of Schleswig-Holstein to locals and holidaymakers from March to August. 17 restaurateurs take part in this festival of delights, which complements a supporting program with music performances, tastings and lectures. The opening gala will take place on March 5th in the “Historischer Krug” restaurant in Oevensee near Flensburg. A total of around 25 events attract visitors.

The CMA supports the “Nordic Pleasures in Tables” campaign because it is convinced that it is a successful way of presenting German agricultural products in an attractive, enjoyable and contemporary way. And although the CMA stands nationwide for the many products of German agriculture, regionality is very important to them. From the region for the region is the motto under which it combines an extensive range: For example, it supports farmers and producer groups in developing and implementing regional marketing concepts for their products. Regionality is also very popular with the CMA Specialties Award: every two years, the CMA honors particularly smart and innovative products. At the food industry trade fair ANUGA in Cologne in autumn 2003, a Schleswig-Holstein company was also honored with the prize: Glinder Ziegenhof won the coveted award in the "Eco" category for its matured goat's cheese. The next award will take place in autumn 2005. The CMA also implements the topic of regionality in gastronomy. For example, she organizes specialty weeks for company catering. Whether "country outing" or "experience German cuisine in a new way" - the guests in canteens and canteens get an appetite for local specialties in this epicurean way.

A new CMA work focus in terms of regionality is the application of the European protection system for specialties. With the logos for the "Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)" and the "Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)", regional foods and specialties can be specially marked and thus protected against imitators. While the Romance countries have already protected numerous local specialties, the German manufacturers - despite a wide range - have not yet jumped on this bandwagon to the same extent. The task of the CMA is to make the advantages of this instrument better known in Germany.

Many German cheese specialties could also benefit from such protection at European level. Therefore, the CMA is particularly pleased that cheese will receive special attention at a special event of the "Nordic Pleasures of the Table" on April 21st. Because Germany is a cheese country - several hundred different delicacies bear witness to this. Under www.deutscher-kaese.de connoisseurs can get an idea of ​​the German diversity. And the Schleswig-Holstein cheese route is impressive proof that the far north can also serve up numerous cheese specialties. The dairies and cheese dairies along this route offer tasty delicacies and provide instructive insights into their production. Incidentally, you can also explore the Schleswig-Holstein Cheese Route by bike. A free map can be found online at http://www.cma.de/genuss_78615.php be downloaded.
 
Regionality and enjoyment have many facets. They convey the “Nordic pleasures of the table” in a particularly tasty way. The CMA wishes everyone involved good luck, lots of success and an enjoyable time.

Your contact person:

dr Bettina Bongartz
Department of Development Marketing / Central-Regional Marketing
Phone: 0228.847373
Fax: +0228.847379
eMail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots To display JavaScript must be turned on!

Source: Bonn [cma]