At the Dolac market in Zagreb, near the Kumica monument, 53 family farms (OPG) that offer their products at Zagreb markets received the certificate marked ‘Products of Croatian Farmers’, which guarantees customers that they are buying domestic fruits, vegetables, and other products from their own cultivation.
>>> The Law on Family Farming Has Been Adopted
All certified OPG farmers displayed the ‘Products of Croatian Farmers’ certificate at their sales stands, dressed in yellow shirts and green aprons, and wearing green caps that read: Zagreb Markets.
The certificates were handed to the producers by the Mayor of Zagreb, Milan Bandić, who emphasized that there are no ‘Greek, Spanish, or Turkish products’ among them; they only sell what they have grown and produced themselves.
‘Zagreb’s market, or as we say in Zagreb, plac, is a kind of brand of Zagreb, and the certified producers are the soul of that brand, recognized by consumers and tourists. It is a matter of prestige to buy from ‘your kumica’ where the customer is assured of purchasing quality, fresh, and domestic products,’ Bandić stated, pleased that there are now twice as many certified producers at Dolac than during the first certificate distribution in July 2012.
>>> OPGs Will Be Able to Engage in Robinson Tourism
To the certified OPGs, Bandić wished that they continue to be the highest quality part of the food product offering at the markets, and he invited Zagreb residents and their guests ‘to come to the original, domestic, genuine, certified Dolac market.’
The certification project was initiated by the Association of Croatian Markets in 2006 when they had only a few producers, and today there are 750 certified across Croatia. The idea of the project is to preserve and promote the traditional method of direct marketing of domestic and quality agricultural products from producers to end consumers, thereby highlighting the importance of preserving and improving the Croatian rural area.
Of the 53 producers who received the certificate today, 34 are from the Zagreb area, some are from neighboring counties, but there are also OPG farmers from all over Croatia, noted the president of the Association of Croatian Markets, Božo Granić.
>>> MINT Allocates 24.6 Million Kuna in Support to Small Farms, OPGs, Crafts, and Cooperatives
He announced that certification will continue in the coming years to restore consumer confidence that domestic, fresh, and healthy fruits and vegetables from local producers are offered at the markets.
