Mr. George Karabatos, RECOMED President, an Mrs. Olga Mezeridou, RECOMED Executive Consultant, attended the Municipality of Koper, Slovenia on 24-27 November for the official accession of Municipality of Koper to the RECOMED network. The official signing ceremony took place on 24 November during the annual meeting of olive oil producers to celebrate World Olive Day. The event was co-organised by the Institute of Olive Culture of ZRS (Mrs Milena Bučar-Miklavčič).
The signing of the agreement between the president of RECOMED George Karabatos and the Mayor of Koper Aleš Bržan marks that the accession of the Municipality of Koper to the RECOMED Network strengthens its presence at Mediterranean and European level, enhances the possibilities of promoting its comparative advantages and opens new perspectives for the utilization of the natural and cultural landscapes of the olive tree and olive cultivation in general.
After the signing ceremony a guided tasting of olive oils was held and the closing ceremony and awards for best Young Olive Oils in the presence of Mayor of Koper Aleš Bržan and Minister for defence and active Minister for agriculture Marjan Šarec.
On the 25th November Mr. Karabatos and Mrs. Mezeridou, accompanied by Deputy Mayor Mateja Hrvatin Kozlovič and Mrs. Mojca Kleva Kekuš, visited the Ethnological museum Tona’s house and 4 olive oil producers (Terra viva farm, Tonin tourist farm, Krožera oil mill, Čehovin farm), 3 of whom are members of the “Routes of the Olive Tree” network in Slovenia.
On the 26th November they visited, accompanied by dr. Maja Podgornik and dr. Vasilij Valenčič from ZRS, three (tourist) farms in the Goriška region (Kojsko olive growing association) and then took place a tasting of olive oil in the olive bar with organized lunch and guided tour of Šmartno.
These visits highlighted the excellent quality of the extra virgin olive oil of the region and the efforts of local olive producers to promote the olive product and the tourism destination of Koper, in the context of olive tourism.