Traditional products of County were presented

Six traditional products Dubrovnik-Neretva County - ham, cheese, mantala, dried figs, almonds and arancini, which were selected by the economic evaluation singled through the project 'Development of agritourism in the DNŽ - identification and commercialization of traditional

products in the County '', presented on 3rd June 2014 at the Hotel Lapad. It is a project which goal was to discover a market perspective, traditional products in the county and to encourage and accelerate their commercialization. The coordinator is the Regional Development Agency DUNEA and is funded by the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and the Ministry of Tourism.

For each of the traditional products one manufacturer was selected: OPG Jakobušić to produce Dubrovnik dried figs, OPG Ostojić for producing Neretva dried figs, OPG Đano to produce mantala, Dešapro d.o.o to produce almonds and arancini, OPG Kukuljica for production of cheese and smoked ham Dubrovnik and OPG Kulina Nova Sela d.o.o for the production of Dubrovnik ham.

- Rural area of our county is a big potential and we do that working in a systematic way. For now we are in this direction, with the help of DUNEA, implemented three projects - formed the thematic tourist road Pelješac, and just working on the formation of Roads Neretva, we organized the first regional wine festival Dubrovnik FestiWine and now we present the results of the project valorization of traditional products. All promote under the sign of Dubrovnik Neretva Rural. In this way, we want products to find their way to tourists as souvenirs, but also to be found in the offer of our hotel and restaurant - said the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Prefect Nikola Dobroslavić welcoming crowd.

Traditional production technology was first defined, and then production process of legalization and also packaging and labels were created and produced as well as'' The quality of Dubrovnik-Neretva rural '' which will be allocated by the Rules to interested producers. As technical assistance to potential and existing producers the manual was made with a description of the production technology and other useful instructions. In the next period it is planned to present the results of the project through the whole county and practical workshops for interested potential manufacturers.

Research assistant on the project was prof.Ph. D.. Damir Kovačić from the Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb who last night presented the project. - Our task was to what there is to choose the best, to standardize, to pack and prepare for the market - said Professor Kovacic.

The moderator was recognized expert in culinary scene in Croatia Rene Bakalović, who talked with manufacturers and he get closer to the production process for each of the products, but also drew numerous curiosities and peculiarities associated with them. Guests were also able to taste all the products presented, as well as winning wines Dubrovnik FestiWinea.

The first promotion was held for hoteliers, restaurant owners and all who work in the tourism industry, while the second phase will the potential and future producers, which are ready for the best and will be organized and practical workshops. The goal is to get more people, especially the rural areas, involved in production, with the previously prepared technical support in the form of a defined production process and designed the packaging, visual identity and promotion. DUNEA and this project continues work on the evaluation and development of the rural areas of the county.