Päivi Töyli True Flavours, project coordinator Brahea Centre for Training and Development, University of Turku , True Flavours project (Aitoja makuja II -hanke) The True Flavours project ( ) is a nationwide project governed by the Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland and funded by the Häme Centre for Economic Development, Transport and Environment.

How did the True Flavours project developed? In  Among others professional kitchens and regional food-sector developers hoped that it could be one common place where could be found small sized food companies  For improving image of small size food companies was decided a common slogan True Flavours = aitoja makuja  National Food Finland theme group established portal aitojamakuja.fi in 2008 The True Flavours project ( ) is a nationwide project governed by the Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland and funded by the Häme Centre for Economic Development, Transport and Environment.

Food Finland Theme Group  One of the Rural Policy Committee’s working groups  Members representing all relevant interest groups connected with small-scale food processing: ministries, rural producers, information and advisory services, food agencies but also 16 members connected with regional development work of local food  In Finland totally 2900 food companies, 2400 of them employ less than 10 persons  Some of working methods:  Meetings  Dissemination: newsletter and website (ruokasuomi.fi) seminars, workshops, planning and publication of different studies, guidebooks and statistics  Written opinions to drafts of national food-laws and other official norms  To follow and participate in supervising the interests of SMEs in the food sector and, if necessary, to raise issues to the national discussion The True Flavours project ( ) is a nationwide project governed by the Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland and funded by the Häme Centre for Economic Development, Transport and Environment.

True Flavours projects  Project funding was applied for communication, for development of portal and to establish compact national network two projects: and Project II project financing: Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland / Häme ELY Centre, 100 % funding  Projects have been coordinated by Brahea Centre for Training and Development, University of Turku  The nationwide network consist of 16 regional actor + one in Åland joint regional meeting (3 times a year) and the joint action plan The True Flavours project ( ) is a nationwide project governed by the Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland and funded by the Häme Centre for Economic Development, Transport and Environment.

The True Flavours website: aitojamakuja.fi, aktasmak.fi and will be trueflavours.fi  Projects maintains portal - significant source of information!  One common, public, nationwide webpage  Information about food companies and industry  Search service of food companies: companies has been categorized by product group and region. Over 1500 food companies has been involved in service  Helps food processors and producers and clients (restaurants, retail, buyers in municipalities) to find one another  Enables the creation of new partnerships between companies across regional boundaries  The webpage is now bilingual (Finnish, Swedish) but it will be also in English in autumn 2012  Positive feedback: companies has been collected in one place, a lot of companies have been involved in service and information is up to date The True Flavours project ( ) is a nationwide project governed by the Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland and funded by the Häme Centre for Economic Development, Transport and Environment.

 Marketing activities Presentation of webpage in different kind of events: fairs, seminars, training sessions, meetings articles, bulletins and newsletters  Feedback from companies point of view: this is one channel for increasing the company's visibility and awareness of clients companies are motivated to develop their own webpages companies see the advantage of the fact that the webpage is nationwide and free of charges The True Flavours project ( ) is a nationwide project governed by the Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland and funded by the Häme Centre for Economic Development, Transport and Environment.

 Feedback from regional actors point of view: the model with nationwide activity and the common webpage has been closely connected to a regional operation, is an effective and resource-saving way to do this kind of things visibility is greater when communication is both regional and nationwide at the same time joint meetings have enabled the exchange of experiences The True Flavours project ( ) is a nationwide project governed by the Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland and funded by the Häme Centre for Economic Development, Transport and Environment. Delicacies of Finnish provinces are presented in Helsinki

LounaFood - True flavours from Varsinais-Suomi

Background information About 300 small or medium size food companies in Varsinais-Suomi. In 200 companies there are only 5 employees or less. The biggest fields in food industry are: bakery industry, slaughtering and meat processing, fish processing and processing of vegetables, fruits and berries. Other fields are milk processing, flour-mill industry and beverage industry.

Main objectives of the LounaFood project To improve the recognisability of locally produced food among the potential buyers (shops, restaurants..) and consumers. Lounafood acts as a coordinator and informing as well as guidance organization among the food companies in Varsinais-Suomi.

The main activities of LounaFood project To uphold the contact information register among the food companies To improve the cooperation possibilities between the companies but also between the companies and buyers by organizing meetings and seminars. To participate in fairs and markets and organize joint stands where small companies are able to introduce and sell their products To inform the food companies in many different issues such as authoritative regulations, legislation, training possibilities, new trends and research news. To produce food-related reports such as the report from food culture in Varsinais- Suomi

Results and benefits of LounaFood-project The communication between the companies has increased. The cooperation between the producers and buyers has become easier Locally produced food has become more famous and is now more easily discovered by consumers.

The Duration and Funding of the LounaFood project Lounafood project is funded by Rural development Programme for Mainland Finland during – Total project cost e

Project website: Contact name: Sanna Vähämiko Tel.: or Contact information

A Food chain development -project in South-West Finland ( Main goals of the project: - Reinforcing collaboration among the actors of food chain in South- West Finland - Facilitating new ideas and initiatives in food industry - Improving the strategic role of food chain Target group: The whole food chain of South-West Finland Funding: VARRU project is funded by Rural development Programme for Mainland Finland during – Check also: