Producers from the South Aegean Region made a strong showing at the 12th EXPOTROF Food and Drink Exhibition, held from 31 January to 2 February at the MEC exhibition centre in Paiania.
Twenty-four producers from Syros, Kalymnos, Naxos, Paros, Andros, Tinos, Kasos, Leros, Sikinos, Amorgos and Schinoussa presented products from the Aegean's land and sea at the stand secured by the Region. A culinary event featuring the Chefs' Club of the Cyclades and the Dodecanese filled the exhibition with island aromas and flavours.
Chefs Giorgos Tsaparas, Dimitris Giginis, Panagiotis Mainandros, Nasos Karanikolas and Christos Lalaounis served visitors their creations. These included traditional and contemporary versions of pork fat with cabbage, as well as vegan barley risotto.
South Aegean producers also received Athens Fine Food Awards, recognising taste, quality and innovation. The award winners listed in the announcement were ERMA organic honey from Andros; the Tiniakou Maria microbrewery, “tis grias”, from Andros; Kasios social cooperative for its Kasos dourmaes; Gefseis Lerou for strained tomato, sun-dried tomato, armiriki and spoon sweets; and Lemoni Androu EE for natural lemon juice from Andros.
Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasis, Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food Giannis Andrianos, MPs and political party representatives attended the opening, visited stands and spoke to producers.
Products on display included honey, wine, olive oil, salt-cured fish, cured meats, jams, herbs, dourmaes, soft drinks, beer, cheese and other specialities.
After the exhibition, Deputy Regional Governor for the Primary Sector Filimon Zannetidis, representing Regional Governor Giorgos Hatzimarkos, said:
“I am optimistic and enthusiastic about our producers and the products they exhibit. I see that most participants are young people who have entered the primary sector, packaging and processing agricultural products and making the best possible use of the opportunities our Region gives them to showcase, promote and bring their products to market.
“As a regional authority, we will continue in this way, also making use of funding instruments to support our producers.”
