GACKO PRESENTS ITS TRADITIONAL KAIMAK AT STUDY VISIT IN ITALY

Representatives of Eastern Herzegovina visited Trento and the Val di Sole valley as part of the international SMART ERA project, exploring how traditional food production, local products and sustainable tourism can work together to support rural development.

PHOTO: TO Gacko

Gacko and its traditional dairy products were presented during a study visit to Trento and the Val di Sole valley in Italy's Trentino region, organised within the international SMART ERA project.

Representatives of partner organisations and pilot areas from Eastern Herzegovina took part in the visit, which aimed to showcase successful practices in preserving traditional production, strengthening rural communities and connecting local products with tourism.

Among the participants from Eastern Herzegovina were representatives of the Association of Gacko Kaimak Producers and the Gacko Tourist Organisation, alongside representatives of Slow Food Trebinje, a project partner, and the Tourism Organisation of the Republic of Srpska.

LEARNING FROM ITALY'S RURAL AND GASTRONOMIC TRADITION

During the visit, participants explored Trentino's rich rural and gastronomic heritage, including traditional mills, agricultural holdings, farms following Slow Food principles, agritourism establishments and cheese production facilities.

Particular attention was drawn to Casolet, a traditional local cheese protected through the Slow Food Presidia initiative. It represents an example of how authenticity, quality and the recognition of local gastronomic heritage can be successfully preserved.

One of the most valuable experiences was learning how communities in the Italian region combine traditional agricultural production with modern techniques, gastronomy and sustainable tourism.

Small producers play an important role in the tourism offer, while their products have become an integral part of the authentic visitor experience.

GACKO KAIMAK AS A GASTRONOMIC AND TOURISM ASSET

These experiences are particularly relevant for Gacko and Eastern Herzegovina, an area known for its natural and cultural heritage, distinctive gastronomy and products whose quality is rooted in generations of knowledge and tradition.

Among these products, Gacko kaimak holds a special place as one of the region's most recognisable traditional foods and an important resource for developing gastronomic and rural tourism.

The study visit also provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge, establish new contacts and explore how European experiences could be adapted to local conditions.

Special emphasis was placed on supporting small producers, particularly women whose work plays an essential role in preserving traditional production and the authentic character of Herzegovina's rural communities.

WOMEN PRODUCERS AS AMBASSADORS OF GACKO

The women from Gacko who produce traditional kaimak made a particularly strong impression on the participants.

Their knowledge, dedication, hospitality and commitment to preserving local traditions were recognised as an excellent representation of Gacko and the wider region

Through their work, these producers serve as ambassadors of Herzegovina's gastronomic heritage, presenting its authenticity and richness to an international audience.

SMART ERA CONNECTS TRADITION WITH INNOVATION

The participation of the Gacko Tourist Organisation, within the framework of the Tourism Organisation of the Republic of Srpska, contributes to improving the rural tourism offer, promoting local producers and creating new opportunities to connect agriculture, gastronomy and tourism.

The SMART ERA project promotes precisely this approach: recognising and preserving the values of local communities while presenting them in modern ways through innovation and cooperation between rural areas across Europe.

An important objective is also to improve the visibility of local food producers and accommodation providers, helping them reach new visitors and markets.

The representatives of Eastern Herzegovina returned from Trentino with new knowledge, experiences and ideas that could provide valuable momentum for further rural tourism development and the promotion of authentic local products.