The Minister of Food, María Jesús Susinos, has participated today in the opening of the XXXI International Artisan Cheese Fair of Pesquera, where she visited the 34 exhibitors present, where artisan cheese producers, dairy products, bakery, cured meats, wines, and other quality foods come together.
In a statement, the minister emphasized the "strategic" role of artisan cheese factories and small livestock farms in "the conservation of gastronomic heritage, job creation, and the economic development of rural areas."
Likewise, she highlighted that this type of fair represents "an important showcase for producers and helps bring consumers closer to the effort, tradition, and innovation behind each artisan production." She also emphasized the "family" nature of this meeting, which is organized and promoted with the involvement of the locals and which each year brings together numerous visitors and producers.
In this same line, she highlighted the importance of these events to strengthen the marketing of agri-food products and enhance tourism linked to gastronomy.
"The cheese sector is a benchmark within our agri-food industry and a fundamental piece to keep economic activity alive in many rural municipalities," emphasized Susinos, who reiterated that the regional government will continue to support "producers who bet on quality, attachment to the territory, and the transformation of local raw materials."
The XXXI International Artisan Cheese Fair
The XXXI International Artisan Cheese Fair of Pesquera is held this Friday, August 14, and Saturday, August 15, with a program that includes proposals for all audiences, including environmental education workshops aimed at promoting knowledge and respect for the rural environment.
Today the workshop "D. Manuel Arroyo" has been developed, focused on the production and properties of fermented dairy products such as yogurt, kefir, and other probiotics, while tomorrow the workshop "Say it with cheese" will take place, oriented towards the art of creating and presenting cheese boards, highlighting the variety and richness of this artisan product.
The exhibitors will remain open from 16:00 to 21:30 hours, with the presence of producers from both regional and other communities. In total, 19 producers from Cantabria are participating, of which 12 are cheese factories, along with producers from Asturias, Galicia, the Basque Country, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Aragón, Extremadura, and Catalonia.
At the fair, cheese factories with sheep, cow, goat, and buffalo cheeses meet, as well as producers from eight protected designations of origin: Liébana, Bejes-Tresviso, and Queso de Nata from Cantabria; San Simón from Galicia; Idiazábal from the Basque Country; Cabrales and Gamoneu from Asturias, and Manchego from Castilla-La Mancha.
The offer is completed with producers of sobaos and quesadas, cured meats, bread and pastries, vermouths, duck derivatives, anchovies, jams, natural juice, and ice creams.
During her visit, the counselor was accompanied by the mayor of Pesquera, Julián Gutiérrez, and the president of the Pesquera Sociocultural Association, Rubén Ruiz, as well as other local and regional authorities.