Deep Roots

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food-producing areas, such as the region of Slavonia which

has won visitors over with its sausages and other delicacies.

Croatia already has 16 nationally protected local products,

all of which have been submitted for protection in the EU.

This list of products is expected to expand each year, with

the producing areas becoming recognizable culinary destina-

tions through tourism and the involvement of young people

in agriculture. Croatia’s fisheries sector should certainly be

added to this list. It is one of the most important fisheries

sectors in the Mediterranean. It can be seen through its tuna

exports to Japan that Croatian fishermen are connoisseurs of

their craft, representing the country with the best of gastro-

nomic products.

A large part of the food produced in Croatia is sold through

tourism, and in this manner Croatian products have the best

marketing so they become recognizable worldwide. Croatia is

a small country that does not have the ambition or the poten-

tial to become a mass producer of food, and the global market

is struggling with large countries. It is a strategic objective of

Croatia to be recognized as a specialist in the production of

products which Europe and the world increasingly demand,

and as a producer of distinctive flavours, aromas and quality.

While it is impossible to achieve volume production for huge

export, it is a known fact that Croatia has one of the biggest

food companies in this part of Europe, which is increasingly

exported. Croatian farmers – family farms – are increasingly

tied to its manufacturing industry, to encourage the produc-

tion of value-added products that bring more money and

a better life. Today is safe to say that Croatia, through its

different regions of Slavonia and Baranja, through the Mura

region, Lika and Gorski Kotar, Istria and Dalmatia, has a huge

number of different products that are becoming increasingly

specialized and profitable.

Although Croatian family farms are still small, they have a

power that can be recognized. This has been shown during

the celebration of the International Year of Family Farming,

in the country’s project to select the best family farm. This

award was called ‘Gold worthy’, because food is gold and it is

produced by worthy people.

It is hoped that this award will become a Croatian Agro

Grammy or Oscar. The project was launched in collaboration

with the biggest media house in the country and more than

100 family farms. Some 21 stories about nominated farms –

one in each Croatian county – were published during August

in the highest circulation daily newspaper. Media interest in

these stories was huge, showing that Croatia has something to

be proud of and that Croatian citizens have reason to believe

in their food producers and in buying directly from their

farms/estates and small stores.

In its own way, the award produced a new image of

Croatian agriculture and small producers who, through

their stories, told of a job that is difficult, lasts all year and

affords no rest, but that is done by hardworking people

who enjoy what they do and, thanks to their energy and

enthusiasm, can maintain life in the countryside. It would

be good to see this selection spread to other countries of

the EU to show the beautiful life stories of small farmers.

Small farmers do not have huge budgets for advertising

and marketing, but they have the toughness and heart to

produce high-quality products, to struggle courageously

with global trends and believe that life in the countryside

is something worthwhile that ultimately provides a quality

of life far better than in the big cities. Croatia is proud to

mark the International Year of Family Farming by showing

the best of Croatian rural life, and to promote and support

its small producers at all times.

Image: Minister of Agriculture, Croatia

Olive oil is among the village farm products enjoyed by visitors to Croatia

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