4TH FOODPRINT.

EU MEETING IN SATAKUNTA (FINLAND) AND ESTONIA

June 28th to July 4th 2013 Local production for sustainability (New season potatoes) and Food and tourism (Rhubarb)

28.6.2013
All delegations arrived to Helsinki. We traveled to Ikaalinen where we settled down to the hotel

29.6.2013
After breakfast we started our meeting as a working session. Representatives of Finnish FP-group welcomed all guests to Finland and they explained the program and the goals of this workshop and study tours. we discussed of our mid-project evaluation and of our blog and web-pages. In the afternoon we went to see Frantsilan Kehkukka where we heard how this kind of farm restaurant and herb producing enterprise has arousen. After that we took a boat and ccruised to Mahnala. During the trip mrs Tiina Linnainmaa explain where her families milk production farm is situated and how they wokr at their farm. She also told about Finnish co-operatives.

Next study visit was in Mahnala village. We went to Yrjl Farm, where we met Tina and Matti who are the owners of a berry and potato growing farm. They have also a cafe for tourists. They sell most of their products straight to consumers who come to pick strawberries from the fields. They have 28 hectares of cultivated land and 50 hectares forests. We had a posibility to taste different kind of varieties and we also picked potatoes and berries to be used in our evening program. In the evening we had a Finnish sauna visit by the lake. We prepared our own meal from pure and fresh vegetables and local products. We also could follow some cultural program.

As an optional event most of the group visited later in the evening a traditional ball dance event in Mahnala.

30.6.2013
In the morning our first visit was Ellivuori holiday resort in Sastamala. We made a short excursion in Finnish nature and walked about 2,5 kilometres in a forest. We stopped in Emil Danielssonss ateljee and listened stories of local life. After lunch in farm restaurant Vehmaan tila, Sastamala we heard a presentations: Local production for sustainability. Mrs Aino Launto-Tiuttu explained how TehoPlus-project has motivated farmers to take care of landscape and resist polllution. Mrs Ulla Yli-Hongisto, Chairman of Sastamala City Council made a prentation how the town/municipality of Sastamala works. After that we visit a renovated church (St Olafs church in Sastamala).

1.7.2013
In the mornig we drove with minibusses to Helsinki. We vsited MTKs headquarters and heard two presentations : mrs Anni-Mari Syvniemi explained how MTK works in the field of local production and public relations. Mrs Eija Laine from CIMO/National Agency made a presentation where she figured how next EU Program and financing is going to work. After a short city tour in Helsinki we entered harbour and started a two our ferry trip to Estonia.