by Valentina Salcedo
In a press conference held on Tuesday morning (November 28) at the Civic Museum of Oriental Art, the much-anticipated “Farmer & Artist” event was unveiled. This local gastronomic fair is set to take place on Saturday, December 2, at the Covered Market in Trieste, featuring the participation of more than 40 farmers, bakers, winemakers, and other producers from Carso, Friuli, Istria, and the Balkans.
Key figures present included Deputy Mayor and Economic Policies Commissioner Serena Tonel; David Pizziga, President of GAL Carso – LAS Kras; Deborah Zuliani representing Coldiretti – Campagna Amica of Trieste and Gorizia; Antonella Picinelli representing Slow Food Trieste; and Enrico Maria Milič from GAL Carso.
The City of Trieste is collaborating with GAL Carso – LAS Kras, Slow Food Italy, Fondazione Campagna Amica, and Io Sono Fvg to organize the event, with support from Slow Food Trieste, World Farmers Market Coalition, ZKB – Cooperative Credit of Carso, School of Music 55, WWF Trieste, and Ciofs.
Commissioner Tonel expressed satisfaction, saying, “I am pleased with the excellent success of the 2022 edition, which serves as a foundation to strengthen and enhance this year’s event. Thanks to the fruitful collaboration with Gal Carso, Slow Food Italy, and all the participants, Farmer & Artist will be a great platform to promote the products of the agri-food supply chain in the Trieste and regional territory. Trieste plays a role of responsibility and showcase, considering the number of tourists, and has the task of promoting not only its operators but also everything happening in the surrounding reference area. These are excellent and high-quality products. Finding a space for an event like this is a winning operation. Moreover, energizing the Covered Market with socio-economic initiatives that respect its historical and traditional vocation is very positive: the commitment of the City to enhance this place has never stopped and continues.”
President Pizziga stated, “We work to reconnect Trieste to its historical countryside, encompassing not only Carso but also Istria, Friuli, the Balkans, and hopefully soon, Austria. The Covered Market is the ideal venue for an event that celebrates high gastronomy produced in the fields by our transborder farmers, suggesting to the citizens and tourists where our internationally influenced quality lies.”
Event Highlights:
- At 10:30 AM on Saturday, December 2, the opening ceremony at the Covered Market (via Carducci 36) will feature ribbon-cutting with the presence of authorities and the press.
- Following at 10:45 AM, the Repen Choir, directed by ethnomusicologist Vesna Gustin, will perform.
- From 11 AM to 8 PM, the stalls will be open to the public, showcasing over 40 sustainable producers from Carso, Friuli, Istria, and the Balkans, presenting local excellences rarely found in supermarkets. Slow Food presidia, including cured meats, wines, cheeses, preserves, essences, edible flowers, apples, agricultural liqueurs, craft beer, and fermented vegetables, will be featured. Throughout the day, video stories of Carso and its farmers will be projected at one of the stalls. From 5:45 PM to 7:45 PM, the live music of the “Swing à la carte” quintet, with refined retro flavors and hits from the ’30s and ’40s, will entertain (in collaboration with the School of Music 55).
- Product Tasting (a ticket, available for $10 on www.trieste.green, includes 3 tokens for tasting three snacks or glasses plus a souvenir event glass): Tastings will include local and sustainable wines, craft beers, and snacks prepared by farmers.
- Taste Workshops (variable prices from $5 to $10; more information on www.trieste.green): Guided tastings where recognized trainers will narrate the peculiarities and history of local products. Each appointment will have a specific theme, such as raw milk cheeses and macerated Vitovska, honey shades, Carso cured meats and Terrani, Eastern Herzegovina – land of cheeses and honey. There will also be workshops for children blending art, food, and biodiversity.
- Slow Food Presidia: The event will showcase official Slow Food Presidia, including Pan di Sorc (a round loaf with yellow crumb and a distinctive polenta aroma), cheese in a sack (a specialty of Herzegovina, raw milk cheese aged in smoked sheepskin), Pestith (obtained from maceration of turnip), Varhackara (a “pesto” of white lard, bacon, smoked pancetta, and herbs), precious Marasca honey, olive oil from centuries-old olive trees including Bianchera, Cavasso onion, Vin de rosa, an Istrian sweet wine with a rose scent produced from dried grapes.
Additionally, some local bars and venues are participating in the following initiative:
Slow Aperitifs: From November 24 to December 3, the city’s most prestigious establishments offer slow aperitifs based on Carso wines and Slow Food presidia. Participating venues include Antica Trattoria Suban, Antico Caffè San Marco, Bar Vatta, Bar X, Bottiglia Volante, Mimì & Cocotte, Pagna – Artisan Bakery, Pizzeria Il Cavallino (Opicina), and Ristorante Trieste Mood.
Local Producers at Farmer & Artist 2023:
- Farmers: Antonič, Bajta, Borgo delle Mele, B-Orto Peppers, Coopmont, Colja, Cras birra, Erikin Vrt – Erika Faleschini’s garden, Federica Zerbato, Fiori di Mari, Foran, Friul Bios, Jakne, Kumparička, Latteria turnaria Campolessi, Losinbio, Molino Tuzzi, Puress.Oil Rado Kocjančič, Radovič, Saliet, Salumi e sapori di Timau, Sara Devetak, Settimi e Ziani, Silene, Silvan Ferfolja, Strada dei formaggi e dei mieli, Teraboto, Visintin, Zahar, Zian di Giuliana Sessi, Zobec, Žbogar, 4PR Birrai.
- Bakers: Cotič, Pagna, Pizzeria Al Cavallino, Spaccio pani.
- Bottles from winemakers in the temporary wine shop “Trieste.Green”: Bole, Budin, Bajta, Cacovich, Castelvecchio, Grgič, Lenardon, Merlak, Milič Damijan, Kovač – Vini Ruj, Sancin, Škerk, Zidarich, Ostrourska, Kocjančič.
