ZS “Zūmaņi” invites you to choose local food and join Karotītes

In October, the annual Spoons campaign takes place to promote the consumption of quality local food products, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture with the Latvian Food Enterprises Federation in cooperation with grocery store chains. Rimi and MaximaDigna Skrodere, owner of the farm “Zūmaņi”, is one of the campaign ambassadors.

"We want to remind consumers why it is important to choose local food products, but at the same time we also want to address food producers and farmers who have not yet taken the step to apply to the Food and Veterinary Service, undergo certification and obtain the Green or Bordeaux Spoon quality mark for their products," emphasizes Ināra Šure, Chairwoman of the Council of the Latvian Food Enterprises Federation (LPUF).

“Many farmers have also joined the National Food Quality Scheme,” emphasizes Digna Skrodere, owner of the ZS “Zūmaņi”. The family farm “Zūmaņi” has been growing vegetables since 1999, and currently vegetables are grown on an area of more than 80 ha.

“54 hectares of potatoes, 20 hectares of onions, 6 hectares of green peas and beans, 3 hectares of beets and about a hectare of carrots,” Digna proudly says. And that’s not counting rapeseed and cereals. Zūmaņi potatoes, carrots, beets and onions have the Green Spoon, which confirms both local origin and high quality.

In addition to Digna Skroderė, the campaign ambassadors are Normunds Skauģis, owner and master baker of the bakery “Lāči”, Kristaps Amsils, Chairman of the Board of AS “Dobeles dzirnavnieks”, and Aivars Svarenieks, CEO of SIA “Kronis”.

“By choosing products made in Latvia, we leave money in our country's economy. Such an action is not only patriotic, but also better for the climate, because it means that we choose shorter food supply chains, rather than products that have traveled across half of Europe or even across oceans. We invite buyers to keep an eye on the country of origin of products, because a Latvian brand will not always be made in Latvia,” reminds Ināra Šure, Chairwoman of the LPUF Council.

"Excellent products bring our country fame in the world. By using the Green Spoon, we certify that our products are manufactured in accordance with increased quality requirements. I also invite other manufacturers to join us, because together we can raise the level of high-quality food in Latvia!" emphasizes master baker Normunds Skauģis.

“The spoons give us an advantage in competing in state and municipal procurements,” says Kristaps Amsils, Chairman of the Board of AS “Dobeles dzirnavnieks”, one of the most important advantages of the Green and Bordeaux spoons.

Aivars Svarenieks, the manager of SIA “Kronis”, reminds buyers that the company’s products, marked with the “Bordeaux Spoon” mark of excellence, are produced here, in Bauska. “The Bordeaux Spoon confirms that the entire product processing cycle is carried out here in Latvia,” emphasizes Aivars Svarenieks.

“Green spoons prove how much and high-quality work Latvian farmers do. The spoon quality marks on farmers' products help buyers not to get confused and choose products made in Latvia,” says Digna Skrodere, owner of ZS “Zūmaņi”.

Currently Green spoon has been awarded to 134 companies for 593 products, but Bordeaux spoon – 52 companies for 279 products. Green spoon is awarded to products that are produced in Latvia from local raw materials and meet increased quality requirements. In turn Bordeaux spoons is awarded to products whose full production cycle is carried out in Latvia, the product meets increased quality requirements, but the raw materials necessary for production may not be local.