More than 20 guaranteed Albanian products launched

TIRANA, April 18 – In a special event held in Tirana on Friday, April 15, more than 25 products were presented to the public that will be introduced into the market in different places in Tirana, Durr쳬 Vlore, and Shkoder. Behind these products stand producers, processors, traders, retailers, and institutions all committed to the production and marketing of high quality Albanian products, says the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tirana. All these actors have worked together for the past one and a half years in defining, analyzing, and implementing the activities needed to have high quality products from Albania in the shelves for all those consumers that are getting tired to believe that the best products apparently must be imported.
All products presented are part of a labeling scheme called Albanian Guarantee, which guarantees to consumers the Albanian origin of labeled products, and that sound production and marketing practices are used. Albanian Guarantee uses two logos: “Prodhime Jugu”, for products produced in Southern Albania, and “Alpe Albania”, for those originating from Northern Albania. The products launched involve fresh vegetables and fruits, marmalade, honey, olive oil, juice, herbal teas, chestnut products, dried mushrooms, jufka, and different dairy products. The regions involved in production relate especially to Tropoja, Shkodra, Peshkopia, Durres, Lushnje, Fier, and Vlora. On the retail side, these products will be sold primarily through Merkator and smaller retail shops in Tirana, Tirana Airport, Durr쳬 Vlore, and Shkoder. Moreover, a sales vehicle branded as the “Mobile Food Shop” will soon hit the road to foster sales in front of companies that are interested that their workers have easy access to quality food while helping that important income can be generated in rural areas in Albania.
This important step forward in promoting the quality of agricultural products from Albania was possible thanks to the Swiss government funded “Sustainable Agriculture Support in Albania‟ (SASA) project being implemented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL).
Present in this event were Yvana Enzler, Swiss Ambassador in Albania, Roland Larashi, Director of Agricultural Policies in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection, who both highlighted the important success of having these new products in the market.
“It is wonderful to see Albanian products appearing so nice and so competitive in the market. The results of SASA are reflection of development for over 200 participating families and an open door for thousands others who wish to join the structures build by SASA team. In my mind I picture Albanian food as tasty, fresh and healthy and Albanian Guarantee label developed by SASA aims to picture this everyone’s mind,” stated Ms. Enzler, Swiss Ambassador in Albania.
Roland Larashi, Director of Agricultural Policies in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection commented, “Agriculture is one of the most important components of the Albanian economy. As we are coming closer to EU integration, we will face new market challenges and new opportunities. Our activities need to be integrated and strengthened toward market development to respond to market need and consumer preferences. What SASA is presenting today is a marketing infrastructure that responds to these developments. Albanian government shares same values with these works and we invite all the actors to further expand these results.”