The label “Croatian Island Product” was awarded today at a ceremony in Brijuni for 57 products made by 18 island producers. The model and plaque of the “Croatian Island Product” label were presented by the Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Božidar Kalmeta, who announced that the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure will continue to invest in island production.
Kalmeta stated that there is consideration for the possibility that “the Ministry will subsidize production with non-repayable funds for all those awarded today next year.” The Ministry launched the visual labeling project for island products with the label “Croatian Island Product” in early 2007, intending to encourage island producers to create authentic and quality products. Last year, 22 products from 14 producers received this label. After just two years, Croatia can boast a commendable number of excellent products bearing the label “Croatian Island Product,” including wines, cheeses, products made from Cres wool, Brač stone, or Pag lace, emphasized Kalmeta. The “Croatian Island Product” project aims to promote the development of island production and raise the quality level of island products, which should include features of island tradition, said Minister Kalmeta. These are primarily products that are the result of island tradition, developmental-research work, innovation, and invention, the quality levels of which must be measurable. The European Union, it was highlighted among other things at the ceremony, considers the production of traditional products to be very important, and there are a large number of indigenous, high-quality products on Croatian islands that can become an important export brand. (H)
