Tbilisi (GBC) - On 14-15 September 2024, in Dedaena Park, the 18th Unique Georgian Taste agromarket will once again celebrate Georgian agriculture, featuring niche and terroir produce from regions across the country. The event is organised by FAO under the EU and Sweden-funded ENPARD IV. The agromarket aims to support its participants in popularising their agricultural goods representing the country’s agricultural heritage, as well as contemporary gastronomic trends.
With more than 50 producers, the Unique Georgian Taste agromarket will feature dairy and meat products, alcoholic beverages, as well as artisanal confectionery, honey, jams, and other culinary delicacies. Each participant and item at the event conveys stories about Georgia’s culture and emphasises the advantages of food safety in agricultural production.
The event participants have benefited from EU and Sweden-funded FAO projects in Georgia. They have received matching grants to improve their agricultural ventures or utilised relevant training opportunities.
The Unique Georgian Taste agromarket has supported nearly 70 participants with improved access to market. More than 80 jobs have been created by 20 producers as a result of the increased interest in their products generated by the commercial platform. The agromarket’s 34 producers reported a sales expansion of at least 15% and, overall, a 35% increase in collective income was observed at the end of 2023. Importantly, the Unique Georgian Taste participants have gained 1,000 regular customers and generated more than 330,000 GEL of income during the years 2022-2023.
EU and Sweden-funded “Unique Georgian Taste” has become a successful model for collaboration between FAO and the private sector in Georgia. Notably, the event has been instrumental in promoting locally produced niche and terroir products, as well as endemic crop varieties such as cereals. It has helped Georgian farmers establish new commercial relationships with customers and businesses. The Unique Georgian Taste has hence served as a platform for improved access to the market and new income opportunities.
About the European Union
For more than 30 years, the European Union has built a close partnership with Georgia, supporting its development through knowledge and experience sharing, expertise, innovation and financial support. The relationship between the EU and Georgia is based on shared values of peace, freedom, democracy, human rights and inclusive economic growth.
About the project
The European Union supports rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Programme. Aiming to reduce rural poverty, ENPARD has been implemented since 2013. The Programme started by supporting the development of national agriculture potential. Subsequently, it also concentrated on creating economic opportunities for rural populations in Georgia. Since 2021, the Programme has also been working on improving food safety in the country, with additional support from Sweden, and with FAO and the Czech Development Agency as the main implementers of this food safety component under ENPARD IV.