Farmers in Romania are going back to their roots and promoting local, traditional produce in order to eventually compete in the competitive EU market, using local, World Vision-supported exhibitions as a springboard.

A recent exhibition saw 27 Romanian farmers in Iasi city, 450 kilometres north-east of Bucharest, presenting honey, pies, cheese, cherries, salads, and other produce, organised by World Vision Romania's, Iasi Area Development Programme (ADP), the County Department for Agriculture and Rural Development, the Center for Community Development and the Veterinary-Sanitary Department for Food Safety through a project named, 'Partnership and continuity for Romanian traditions'.

'We are very proud to be here today. Until now, we have never had the chance to show people how fresh, healthy and delicious our produce is. Everyone is so impressed by these new supermarkets that they forget to look for quality in what there are buying. It was truly a wonderful feeling to see the expression on their faces when they tasted our produce', said Adriana, one of the farmers present at the exhibition.

Farmers exhibited alongside five local companies from four communities where Iasi ADP operates. This partnership with local public authorities is also part of a larger economical development project developed by World Vision Romania, which aims to improve the lives of people in rural areas, by supporting agricultural activities and helping them start small businesses.

'Romania needs to protect local, traditional produce in order to conserve its national and regional heritage and be a part of the European 'unity in diversity'. Now more than ever, we cannot afford to lose our national identity, even as part of the European family', said Ms Tita, World Vision Romania Project Coordinator.

She added, 'What we are now trying to do through our economical development project and through this partnership with local authorities is to give our farmers alternatives for safe, healthy development. We want this kind of exhibition to become a regular event and also to allow the farmers to sell their traditional produce in a special market'.

Traditional Romanian farmers, like their European counterparts before them, are now struggling to compete with low quality, bulk produce found at hypermarkets.

Together with traditional products, traditional jobs are also gradually disappearing, especially in poor rural areas that are already more affected by poverty and by the lack of economical opportunities.

Agriculture, community organisation and income generation activities are therefore a major focus for World Vision in rural areas, where Romanian families are being hit hard by increased food prices and a general increase in the cost of living.

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