The Local Producers’ Fair transformed the square of the Metropolitan Cathedral in central Chisinau into a real big house. The third event of the kind involves more than 80 women entrepreneurs from different districts of the country and also from the Transnistrian region and Ukraine, IPN reports.
Among the products for sale are dried fruit, cheeses, sausages, nuts and almonds, honey and bee’s teas, artisanal chocolate and many other delicacies. Visitors can find handmade products that reflect Moldova’s traditions and natural riches.
Olga and Petru Secară are in their third generation of beekeepers. For them, “Apis Rye” is not only a business, but also a passion. “This year we have dew honey. It is not produced every year. It depends a lot on the weather conditions in summer. Dew honey is collected from pollen from flower leaves and can only be gathered when summer is very hot. We are glad that today we can participate in this special fair for women. We have not been selling honey for export for five years. The fairs are a unique opportunity for us because we can work at home and we don’t have to go abroad,” Olga Secară told IPN.
“This fair gives me a unique chance to make my business known and to share the taste of my products with people from all over the country. My work is a real passion, and the support I receive here is extraordinary,” said another entrepreneur, who came from Călărași.
“It’s great to see so much support for women entrepreneurs. We feel stronger when we see that our work is appreciated,” stated a honey producer from northern Moldova.
Among the participants in the fair is a refugee from Ukraine, named Anna. Wood embroidery, a unique and original creation in the region, is the activity thanks to which the woman manages to cope in Moldova.
The fair will continue until Saturday, October 19. Its purpose is to support women entrepreneurs, to stimulate the local economy, as well as to promote responsible consumption of natural and authentic products. The event is organized on the occasion of the United Nations’ International Day of Rural Women.
“On October 15, the International Day of Rural Women was celebrated to raise public awareness of the role of rural women in the well-being of their families and in the development of the economy. In this connection, at this fair we encourage and support their dedicated work. We are glad to have them annually in the heart of the capital city,” said the mayor of Chisinau Ion Ceban.
The first International Day of Rural Women was celebrated on October 15, 2008, instituted by the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) through the Resolution of December 18, 2007. This day recognizes the critical role and contribution of rural women in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.
The Local Producers’ Fair is organized by UN Women Moldova together with the Association of Women in Agriculture and Tourism "EUROCIVIS".
