- In 2019, the first edition of the Itinerant Mountain Fair was launched in the north of Navarre. On this occasion, he has just begun the third with the first fair held in Atallu (Araitz) on 24 April. The organizers include the Cederna Garalur Rural Development Association, ten municipalities of the region, the Habelarte baserritarras association, several groups related to food and consumption and the Plazaola Tourism Consortium. The main objective is to raise awareness of local producers and craftsmen and to offer new direct sales outlets. That, and to promote the network between craftsmen, the primary sector, consumers and businesses.
The travelling market is part of the plan implemented in the municipalities of Araitz, Arano, Areso, Atetz, Basaburua, Goizueta, Imotz, Larraun, Leitza and Lekunberri. In fact, with the impetus of Cederna Garalur, they have implemented a plan for the dynamization of the sustainable food system throughout the region, and in addition to the fair, they have other projects such as the center of collective transformation and the Food Table at the area level. “One of our objectives is to generate synergies between the different agents that make up the food chain,” explained Amaiur Unzueta, a feeding technique and dynamization of the mountain of Cederna Garalur.
After the first fair in Atallu, in the coming weeks, the travelling initiative will go through many other peoples of the Basque geography. The next appointment will be on 8 May in Lekunberri. Then there will be the turns of Gorriti (Larraun), Goizueta, Leitza, Latasa (Imotz), Basaburua, Areso and Beuntza (Atetz). “As in previous years, the supply of food and non-food products will be between 25 and 30 places at each trade show,” explains Unzueta. Those approaching will find everything: eggs, cheeses and dairy products, chorizo and organic sausage, bread, seasonal fresh vegetables, beer, artisan chocolate… “We try to make the producers of our environment see, but in the case of certain products that are not produced in the region, there are also producers from other peoples”, he added.
The work of these years, little by little bearing fruit
The travelling trade fair began with three main objectives: to promote the visibility of local producers and craftsmen, to offer a direct selling space and to create synergies between the different actors in the food chain. The drivers are satisfied with the answer they have had so far. “According to the producers, from the shops and shops in the area they are increasingly called to order their products, and we are also working for pedagogy and responsible consumption through the fair,” concluded Unzueta.