The Rancher’s House this Saturday hosted the official inauguration of the traditional livestock fair of Saint Benedict Abbot. This is the 44th edition of one of the most traditional gatherings encompassed in the July La Laguna festivities but, on this occasion, the organization announced a name change that aims to give the event a historic boost. From this 2023, the meeting will have an insular character and will be renamed Agricultural Fair of TenerifeFagate.
To the appointment, which will conclude this Sunday in the emblematic venue of the San Diego Trailrepresentatives of a sector attended, the primary sector, which represents 4% of the Gross Domestic Product in the Archipelago. La Laguna is also one of the Canary Islands municipalities with the most drive for this type of activity.
For the occasion, the organization drew up a complete program of activities designed to publicize the native products and breeds and, incidentally, entertain visitors. The spaces were divided around the hauling ground, the nerve center of the fair, and the mooring area. Also, next to the entrance, he arranged a tent with the stalls of different companies and producers who not only showed their products, but also organized their own activities.
In this space, one of the busiest throughout the morning, it was possible to enjoy a complete assortment of wines, sweets, honey, sausages and even the traditional Tacoronte nougat.
Montse Hernández, from Las Llanadas Cheese Factory, in Los Realejos, he was in one of the most attractive positions. “This is the first time I come to this fair but I usually try to go to as many as I can,” he explained. To this cheesemaker who also dares to make her own ice creams, it seems like a great opportunity to go to this type of meeting with her wide variety of products. «It offers you the possibility of meeting new clients outside of those who are already your regulars. When I go to a site like this, there are many who call me later or contact me to continue buying, “she said.
Regarding the preferred products, he assured that despite the fact that “fresh cheese is in great demand and almost everyone likes it” it is common for those who come to his stand to want to try “other varieties such as cured or semi-cured.” Regarding his ice creams, made with goat cheese, he explained that it was an idea that occurred to him to try last year and that it has been very well received. «I make them with fruits, such as mango, strawberry or red fruits; I also make rice pudding and cottage cheese.
The list of local products is enormous and professionals from the Tenerife primary sector are also concerned with innovating and expanding the offer. One of the most demanded activities was the one organized by the lagoon nursery La Cosma. With the help of Margarita Hernández, from Naturalmente Margui, They designed tasting workshops whose objective was precisely to encourage visitors to consume local products. The tropical fruit one was one of the most striking and attendees were able to try, some for the first time, fruits such as water apple, mamey and soursop. “We have prepared, for example, a watermelon granita that people have liked a lot,” explained Hernández. “They have also been able to try plain yogurt made from goat’s milk,” he added.
In the central zone, the dragging ground, the official opening of the fair took place just before it started the morphological contest of the perro de presascoring for the Championship of Canary Islands and organized by the Presa Canario Breeders Association and the Spanish Presa Canario Club, a pioneer in the recovery and conservation of this impressive breed and which was founded in 1982.
The institutional act was attended by several of the mayors of the Island, a gesture that was not accidental since it is intended to reinforce the new insular character of the lagoon meeting. The councilors of El Rosario, El Sauzal, Tegueste and Tacoronte, for example, were present.
He President of Agate, José Manuel Expositohe thanked the presence of the public and the large group of institutional representatives and recalled the effort that the workers of the Tenerife countryside make “365 days a year” so that there are quality and close products on the table of homes on the Island. He highlighted the effort made to diversify the Fair’s program, which includes music and numerous informative workshops and talks.
«Practically the entire sector is here for visitors to see, for example, the valuable genetic heritage of our animals; many of them are unique in the world”, he highlighted. He also recognized Expósito the difficulties that they continue to have to go through due to aspects such as the high cost of cereals to feed their animals due to the restrictions of the war in Ukraine.
The new island councilor of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing, Valentín gonzalezand the President of the Council of Tenerife, Rosa Davila. The latter, who thanked the work done by the workers and entities in the sector, also had some words of encouragement for the women who are part of this industry. Also present was mayor of La LagunaLuis Yeray Gutiérrez.
