The sixth Unique Georgian Taste agro-market was held on 17-18 December, bringing the Holiday season spirit to Dedaena park. Farmers from all of Georgia’s regions presented and sold their uniquely Georgian agrarian goods. New Year-themed activities, as well as nationally celebrated and undiscovered snacks and drinks, were available for visitors of all ages. These series of farmers' markets have been implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in partnership with Stall through the support of the European Union (EU).

More than 50 producers took part in the Unique Georgian Taste Agro market. Hence, once again, they played an outstanding role in popularising the diverse agricultural heritage of the country. Dairy and meat products, confectionery, tea, honey, jams, and a wide variety of condiments, were among some of the exhibited goods at the market.

The market participants are beneficiaries of FAO projects implemented through the support of the European Union, as well as the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) and UN Women. Farmers who UNIDO is supporting were also present at the two-day celebratory event.

Most of the agro-market producers have received food safety and business management training from FAO. Some of them have purchased agricultural equipment or improved their premises through the matching grants, which the FAO project has provided through the support of the EU under its ENPARD Programme. Many of them have also benefited from this project’s educational opportunities and technical support.

More than 135,000 GEL has been generated through sales at the two-day agro-market Unique Georgian Taste event series. Importantly business partnerships are being formed between FAO beneficiaries and the HoReCa, retail, and export sectors. The producers at the Unique Georgian Taste events have been networking with each other and initiating synergistic collaborations. The event has also stressed the empowerment of rural women, who comprise 58% of all market participants.

“Georgia is truly unique with its cultural heritage and the vastness of the country’s agricultural goods is a perfect demonstration of this. This is why creating an event such as the Unique Georgian Taste is possible – there are just so many unique tastes in all of the country’s regions. Many agro-market participants have told us that they are forming business partnerships with the private sector and gaining new customers and that is a great achievement of the two-day event series. I do hope that this upwards trend continues and unique Georgian tastes get their rightful place on the national, as well as the international markets,” – stated Javier Sanz-Alvarez, FAO-EU Programme Coordinator.

“The EU is proud to support small and medium agricultural goods producers uniquely positioned to showcase their country. Their high-quality products allow customers to discover the variety of Georgia’s agricultural heritage. Supporting smallholders in meeting market demands and raising their incomes are important directions of the EU4Business initiative, which the Unique Georgian Taste is a part of,” – stated Dominik Papenheim, Team Leader for Economic Development and Market Opportunities at the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia

The agro-market is being implemented by FAO and supported by the EU under the EU4Business initiative - EU Innovative Action for Private Sector Competitiveness in Georgia, along with other sponsors. The initiative aims to assist Georgian entrepreneurs in improving the legal environment and access to finance while strengthening ties with the European Union.