Southwest Finland is remarkably visible at Green Week food fair in Berlin on 18-27 January 2019. The world’s biggest food fair organized yearly has about 400 000 visitors, 1 700 exhibitors and 4 000 media representatives. Food and travel experiences from Southwest Finland are showcased in the Finnish Archipelago section.

The aim is to get visibility to the food and beverage products of companies in Southwest Finland and attract more tourists to the region. In all, more than 80 companies from different parts of Finland are presented in the Finnish fair section.

– Nearly half of Finnish food production comes from Southwest Finland, and speaking of processing, the figures are much bigger. That is why it is important for us to participate in the fair with our own section of Southwest Finland, says Paavo Myllymäki, Executive Director of The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) of Southwest Finland.

Nearly half of Finnish food production comes from Southwest Finland, and speaking of processing, the figures are much bigger.

Paavo Myllymäki

The shared fair section of Southwest Finland is realised by the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) of Southwest Finland and the cities of Turku, Uusikaupunki, Rauma and Pori of the Intercity Collaboration of South-West Coast of Finland (”Loura”). In addition, the Regional Council of Southwest Finland takes part in financing the section. Actors of both food industry and travel industry are present at the fair. . Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas (beverages), Leipomo Rostén (bakery products), Palmusto (chickpea products), Munax (egg products), Finnlines (ferry trips), Raitti 181 (Sauvo region), NAMS terttutomaatit (truss tomatoes) and Bad Santa (liquer ice cream), among others, are marketing their products and services in the fair section.

– We are excited about being present in the shared section of Southwest Finland with our new protein-based products and with eggs. In our products we connect Finnish quality, gluten freeness and dairy freeness, which are all rising trends in Europe. We will serve tasters at the fair from bilberry flavoured Munax protein smoothie, among other things, says CEO Janne Torikka of Munax Ltd.

Sales and Marketing Director Petri Siitonen of Palmusto, which makes chickpea products, says that their company will exhibit a completely new product in Berlin.

– The new generation of tasty and wholesome KIK & GO meal solutions of Palmusto will be launched at the fair and we are looking forward to the reception, says Siitonen.

The Green Week food fair is organized yearly.

The Green Week fair is considered important also for tourism promotion. According to Tourism Manager Irene Villanen from the city of Rauma, participation in the Green Week fair is a great addition to the international marketing of the Finnish Archipelago.

Food tourism and emphasis on locality are the prevailing trends in tourism.

Irene Villanen

– Germany is our main market area. Food tourism and emphasis on locality are the prevailing trends in tourism, and the offering of the Finnish Archipelago, for example, in its tour routes, represents the trends at its best. The area for German markets is also easily accessed, Villanen says.

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Pictures: Green Week food fair