- Summer ecological fairs have long been held in different parts of Euskal Herria. The trade fairs are normally organized by local consumption groups and associations in favour of organic production, such as Bionekazaritza de Álava, Ekolur de Bizkaia and Biolur de Gipuzkoa. The Council of Agriculture and Organic Food of the Basque Country is also involved in its coordination and communication work. We have talked to them about the ecological fairs of the summer of this year. Although there's a lot of uncertainty about the coronavirus, there's hope for fairs. The first has already been carried out in Elorrio on 4 July.
“The aim of the trade shows is to make organic food visible and to raise awareness of the diversity and quality there is,” said Council Communication Officer Nagore Usabel. Producers have to have an eco-certificate in order to be able to participate in fairs and the organisation also looks for the diversity of products: “Instead of having four dairy tables, you are given the opportunity to put another vegetable, for example,” he says. The producers who participate in the fair of each village are changing so that everyone has the opportunity, and in most cases they are farmers and farmers nearby in each place.
The data collected by the Council over the last twenty years show that there is an increasing possibility of organic products in our environment: If in 2001 there were 61 producers and 373 hectares in organic production, in 2021 they reached 515 producers and 7,420 hectares. The change is not small, but from the Council they say that much remains to be done: “Despite the social recognition of organic production, it remains the minority and in the autonomous community, in total, 4.00% of the agricultural area is cultivated,” they say. If the 2030 target is to reach 25%, that number is still a long way off.
Dates to save this summer
Usabel has said that there is an increasing interest in organic food in society, and that they are satisfied with the response that the markets receive. They also take advantage of the markets to carry out other activities. In Elorrio, for example, the Council organised a travelling exhibition on organic production, and last year, Biolur carried out a route of ecological delicacies.
Well, there is no excuse for those who want to buy nearby organic products this summer.
Navarra:
- Ecomerkado de Pamplona, 7 August and 4 September
- Park of the Senses of Noáin 24, 25 and 26 September
Biscay:
- Algorta, 11 September
- Mungia, 25 September
- Durango, 9 October
Gipuzkoa:
- Zarautz, 20 August
- San Sebastian, 4 September
- Errenteria, 11 September
- Zerain, 19 September
- Aretxabaleta, 25 September
- Eibar, 2 October
- Leintz-Gatzaga, 17 October
- Villabona, 31 October
Álava:
- Zigoitia, 31 July
- Vitoria, 2 October