The opening ceremony of the "Local Food Products Week" event took place.

At the event organized in Baku, products produced by small farms and entrepreneurial enterprises benefiting from the project were presented. At the event, presentation and tasting of local dishes belonging to the North-West region of Azerbaijan, and a specialist class on cooking were held.

The main purpose of the event is to support local farmers and producers, promote the promotion of local food and products. During the event, local food products included in the newly created "Taste of the Country" brand within the framework of the project were also presented to the participants. Products such as beekeeping products, various types of jams, crushed nuts and dried fruits were exhibited. In addition to the products, the presentation of the "Food Recipes" book of the region, prepared within the framework of the project, took place.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, FAO employee, manager of the FAO Azerbaijan Cooperation Program, Vugar Mehdiyev, emphasized the purpose of the event, the work done within the framework of the project, the purpose of the event, and also the contribution that local food products will make to the development of the target region, and wished success to everyone participating in the event. The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) Representation in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Gen. Peter Mikhalko, made an opening speech at the event.

During the implementation of the project, 23 production groups were created on 7 value chains, in each of which small producers are concentrated. The production areas of the groups are selected products according to the value chain: honey, beekeeping products, fruit drying, jam production, molasses, nut products and dried meat products. Selected value chain participants were provided with the necessary equipment and tools by the project in order to expand their production areas and at the same time set up the production process according to market requirements. One of the other directions of the project is to study the tourism potential of the region and to support agro-tourism in this region. 1 agro-tourism center has been identified in each of Gakh, Zagatala and Balakan regions, farm managers and employees have been involved in trainings on rural tourism, sales, and hospitality services. Also, within the project, he supported the development of logos of a special brand (Taste of the Homeland), more than 100 locally produced food products.