Cheese fairs help small farmers to sell and promote the endogenous products they produce
The Fornos de Algodres cheese fair was a success for producers of cheese, jams, honey, chorizo and other endogenous products from the region. This year the event took place again in the town’s sports hall, but next year it will return to the municipal market, whose renovation is nearing completion.
Several producers from the region were present at the space. Anabela Silva, born in Fornos de Algodres, went to the cheese fair to present the «first regional sweets made with nettles». Amélia Reis also went to sell sweets, «all with nettle, which is very good for your health, has vitamins and iron». Maria dos Prazeres, also from the Fornense region, makes sweets at home organically. At the event she had “strawberry, sloe, blueberry, pumpkin and walnut, quince” sweets, but she also usually sells “oranges and tangerines”. João Lopes also considers that the Cheese Fair is good for «presenting local products, seeing local people and showing what we produce». It is an important opportunity for «small producers», since, in their case, for the rest of the year they work with «the end customer, but also with resellers». «But coming to these times of cheese fairs there is always something else», he adds.
From Queijaria Campos, João Campos says that he raises lambs and produces cheese. Throughout the year «someone always appears, but this activity tends to end… even faster than you think», he warns. António Cabral is a honey producer and tells O INTERIOR that he hasn’t had “much production, but what I have I’ve been able to sell mainly at these fairs.” The beekeeper reveals that «I have customers and sell a lot during the year, but these events contribute a lot to sales». Maria do Carmo Simões was only at the Fornos de Algodres fair to «mark her presence», adding that she works in «agriculture, I milk the sheep, I make cheese and I sell it». For the Fornese producer, «business is going well», as it has «more customers than cheese».
In contrast is Ana Martins, from Queijaria Artesanal Serras do Mondego, who complained that «business could go a little better», but believes that it is «generally bad». Even so, «there are people who specifically look for our product and come looking for cheese, cottage cheese and fresh goat cheese». Representing the sausages sector was Nelson Olivais, from Produtos Olivais, which produces «sausages, Serra da Estrela cheese, paio, ham, typical products from our region». Also from the municipality, the producer stated that these events are “important to sell the product and to show what we have. More important than selling is having the product physically available for people to see and taste… and, who knows, later buy». Nelson Olivais trusts the taste of the Portuguese and emphasizes that «our country really likes our products».
But there were more endogenous products besides cheese and honey. António Moura is from Canas de Senhorim and went to Fornos de Algodres to sell the «typical caramelized seeds that have been made for 15 years in the same cart». The producer has been participating for around «10 years and takes everything – peanuts, almonds, sunflowers, apples… everything live, on site, in an artisanal pan».
In turn, José Santinho sells «ginja, poncha, sangria and caipirinha», but explains that «the business is just starting. In winter it’s deader, but in summer it’s every other day».
