NEWS

The Transylvania Food Company has leased from ADEPT the 22x5m food barn, a traditional barn on the outside but inside is a dedicated food production facility. On 23 May 2009, HRH The Prince of Wales came to Saschiz to inaugurate this model food processing unit. This "food barn" is a simple conversion of a farm courtyard barn, and has been authorised by the Directorate for Sanitary Veterinary & Food Safety Authority (DSVSA) for the production of local products for retail sales in Romania, and to other countries. John Taylor has provided key guidance in the food barn design and operation including the preparation of the operating protocols required for approvals by the foods standards agency.

The food barn will help small producers in the area to continue to use their traditional recipes while meeting new food safety requirements. The food barn will be used initially to produce a range of jams and pickles and to bottle honey and pack sun dried herbs. This will enable the bulk buying of ingredients such as sugar and jars and the consolidate production for marketing, quality control and the provision of labeling and packaging. The food barn will also be used to develop a range of cheeses from the fabulous milk of cows and sheep grazed on the flower rich hay meadows.

Jim Turnbull is a founder member of Fundatia ADEPT, a charity established in Romania and the UK and working to protect the outstanding countryside of the Tarnava Mare area in Transylvania, and to give local people a secure future. It promotes nature conservation linked to sustainable agriculture, high quality local food products, rural tourism, traditional crafts and skills, and community prosperity. See www.fundatia-adept.org for project information.

From the area hardly being mentioned in any of the international travel guides in 2005 to being recommended as one of the top 500 eco destinations in the world is quite an achievement.

"I'm writing to let you know that your organisation (Discover Tarnava Mare) has been specially recommended in Rough Guides' new book – Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World - published in August 2009.

Rough Guides is one of the most successful and respected travel brands in the world, with over 300 travel guides in print. We have a reputation for good writing, accuracy and honesty.

In writing this book, the authors have highlighted 500 fantastic places across the globe which will inspire people to see the world in a new light, selecting unusual holidays and alternative ways to travel which make a real difference to the lives of local people and the planet.

Only a few companies qualify for a special recommendation of this kind, which highlights your company as one of our authors' favorites.

We are happy to offer you and your customers 20% OFF the price of the book, RRP £18.99. To obtain this, visit www.roughguides.com and enter ROUGH at the check out.

Yours, Ragini Govind, PR & Marketing Support Coordinator, Rough Guides"

See www.discovertarnavamare.org for more information on local products and tourism services. This web site was designed by Sue Prince who has been advising the project on tourism and food product marketing linked to the landscape.

The introduction of the Slow Food movement to Romania and the establishment of the first Farmers Market in Romania has been an important achievement. In July 2009, the weekly market in Bucharest gained international recognition as a Slow Food Earth Market A second farmers market is now held in Brasov on the last weekend of every month from April to November.

The aim of Talking Shop is to meet monthly for a pint and a sandwich, share tales of travel, successful projects and disasters, topical issues, IT tips, business opportunities and more. The objectives are to improve networking and to overcome one of the major problems facing those of us who no longer work in a large organisations - the need for regular contact with like minded consultants.

Jim Turnbull is convener of the TAA (Tropical Agriculture Association) Specialist Agribusiness Group. The aim of the Agribusiness Group is to build on these monthly Talking Shop meetings, and to attract new participants from within the TAA membership who are interested in the commercial aspects of development. It is hoped that real business opportunities will emerge to the mutual benefit of those who attend. If appropriate, the group will nominate seminar topics for the London and South East Region to consider. Visit the TAA web site by clicking www.taa.org.uk to find out about other TAA activities (which are not limited to the Tropics as the name might suggest) and consider individual or corporate membership.

Regular Talking Shop meetings continue to be held on the last Friday of the month in the Shepherd's Crook, Crowell, Oxon. No need to book - just turn up at 1230. Click here for directions and a photograph of the pub.

Any news items from those of you unable to attend in person will be most welcome. Click here to e-mail JWTurnbull@bmc-ltd.com with your contributions and any comments about the web site or to request further information about BMC or the TAA Specialist Agribusiness Group.

BMC is listed on the UK National Business Link Consultant Register.

BMC is a member of British Expertise and have a page on their web site at www.britishexpertise.org The TAA Agribusiness Group is also a member of British Expertise

BMC is a member of Partners for Environmental Cooperation in Europe (PECE) - working together for a sustainable future. See www.pece.org.uk for further information.

BMC is a member of the Tropical Growers Association.

BMC recommend CNB Support Services if you have need of flexible administrative support at www.cnbsupportservices.co.uk

For details of businesses and services in the Thame area visit: http://www.thame.net

[Home] [Services] [Concept] [Approach] [Activities] [Consultants] [International Projects] [UK Projects] [Food Company] [News] [Pub Directions] [Award] [Management] [Cotton] [Contact]