District wants to strengthen networking between direct marketers and restaurateurs

Fast routes, short value chains, good quality: In order to market regional food from Waldeck-Frankenberg even better, the district wants to network local direct marketers and restaurateurs even better. The goal is to get even more products from farm shops, weekly markets or farms onto the menus of local restaurants.

The district's agricultural department has been working for years on the general marketing of regional products. Now the focus is to be placed even more strongly on catering businesses. "Buying seasonal, organic and regional products is becoming more and more important - not only for consumers, but especially for restaurants," says District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst. "Buying regional products strengthens the local infrastructure, promotes resource conservation, sustainability, species and animal protection, stands for short transport routes and transparency and strengthens close, trusting and fair cooperation." Last but not least, this strengthens the future viability of Waldeck-Frankenberg.

Hotelier Alexander Fitz from Bad Arolsen appreciates the regionality of the products in his hotels and restaurants and can imagine an even broader cooperation with farm shops and farms from the district: "I am not only thinking of meat and vegetables from Waldeck-Frankenberg. The entire regional spectrum is interesting for us." This not only makes sense ecologically and from a market economy point of view: "Our guests appreciate the regional quality of the food." For entrepreneurs, however, all of this must above all be economically viable. However, the general inflation rate contributes to the fact that regional foodstuffs can also keep up with products from the wholesale trade in terms of price. "Processing regional barley would also be desirable for AROLSER beer," says Fitz, who is planning a new brewery on the site of the old Hofbrauerei in Bad Arolsen.

The town of Bad Arolsen supports his plans. "Brewing the beer here and using regional grain for the recipe is the goal, a food that is 100 per cent anchored in the region in its origin and processing," says Bad Arolsen's mayor Marko Lambion. "Regional value chains thus also ensure sustainable regional development - in Bad Arolsen and throughout Waldeck-Frankenberg."

In all of these considerations, the district would like to support all businesses and farms in Waldeck-Frankenberg. "Because in order to put cooperation into practice, concrete networking, reliable agreements and the establishment of appropriate supply chains are needed," emphasises District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst. "We have good and valuable food in Waldeck-Frankenberg. We just need to market them better. The regional restaurants offer excellent opportunities for this. This is a win-win situation for both sides."

The contact persons from the agricultural department are therefore happy to provide advice and mediation. Restaurateurs and direct marketers are welcome to contact the staff and explore possible collaborations together.

Keywords:

Regional products Direct marketers Specialised service Agriculture Country life