For almost a decade, Sinj has hosted the National Fair of Prosciutto Ham and Dry-Cured Meat Products with international participation which is held annually in April.
This traditional event brings together all those involved in the prosciutto ham industry, from pig breeders, producers and distributors of prosciutto ham and dry-cured meat products to Government and professional institutions, distributors and meat industry equipment producers.
The 2013 Fair was sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Crafts, the Croatian Chamber of Economy – County Chamber Split, and co-organised by the Split-Dalmatia County and the Town of Sinj.
Apart from its promotional and evaluative character, the 2012 Fair was also of educational character so that both producers and visitors could get information on the production and sales of dry-cured meat products such as Dalmatian prosciutto ham, protection of original Croatian products and quality labels, the introduction of standards, models of association, the market, trends, co-operation opportunities with pig breeders, prosciutto ham production and processing technology, stimulation and funding programmes of governmental and other institutions, etc.
The producers were given the opportunity to exhibit their products in fair booths so that visitors could take a look around, taste the products and buy them. In this way, the producers were given the opportunity to represent both themselves and their products as well as promotional materials, but also to appear in the media reporting on the event.
Just like in previous years, quality evaluations of individual producers' prosciutto ham were carried out. For that purpose, a commission was made up of renowned experts.
The prosciutto ham quality evaluation has been based on the Ordinance on Prosciutto Ham Quality Evaluation (Pravilnik o ocjenjivanju kvalitete pršuta). Evaluations are public, carried out in the presence of the members of an expert committee, representatives of producers of the evaluated products and the media. The evaluated products are those of the exhibitors at the Fair.
For the purpose of tourist promotion of the gastronomic tradition of prosciutto ham as a great delicacy, within the show programme of the 2012 Fair, a contest was organised between tourism and hospitality management educational institutions from the four Dalmatian counties (2nd Bura Cup).
The promotion of cultural clubs, traditional customs and handicrafts were also organised.
The participants at the Fair included the major Croatian producers of prosciutto ham and dry-cured meat products, producers of Slavonian ham, regional meat industries, representatives of associations of producers, individual producers, the major producers of Istrian prosciutto ham who have, just like guests from Bosnia and Herzegovina, traditionally participated in the Fair, representatives of pig breeders' associations, regional family farms involved in pig breeding and production of homemade prosciutto ham, representatives of the leading chain stores and hoteliers and caterers.
Dalmatian prosciutto ham is likely to become a brand in the EU market only if its shape and weight, exceptional flavour, aroma, colour, marbling and the natural consistency are of unique quality.
Source: TZ Sinj
