PILOT IN KECSKEMÉT
HUNGARY
The pilot action of Kecskemét City was based on two pillars: supporting and prioritising local producers and the environmental education of children. To achieve it, an E-Market was developed drawing its inspiration from the Slow Food Earth Market quality criteria. It takes place on the last Friday of every month in the outdoor area of Kecskemét Green Market and provides a space where people can interact with producers and ask about the origin of the products. The market also includes live folk music, educational activities and baking and cooking demonstrations. Now there are around 20 producers and some artisans at the market.
The environmental education of children is very important and that is why many children’s groups are invited to attend the market. Children love tastings, interactive presentations and demonstrations (e.g. grain milling, grape pressing, baking in wood fired oven).
Through the pilot, schools are visited every month and children educated about the importance of biodiversity, local products and healthy living. In addition, summer camps and drawing competitions are organised to emphasise the importance of local products and gastronomy.
The E-Market was a completely new event in the life of the city of Kesckemét. It has been very popular, and willingly attended by the citizens. Because of it there are also new producers participating, so variety has likewise expanded. New customers are attending the market and, among them, even more children are present as well.
