As part of the Slovenian Innovation Hub Orbitala, the “Regional Meeting of Public Institution Food Service Organisers and Local Food Suppliers from the Podravje Region” will take place on April 7, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Hoče Cultural Centre (Pohorska cesta 15, 2311 Hoče).
The event aims to explore the key challenges in local food supply and seek solutions that benefit both suppliers and public institutions in Podravje. What actions can already bring positive changes? What about long-term measures that will enable stability and growth?
Are you a local food supplier who wants to build stronger connections with public institutions? Are you organizing meals in public institutions and looking for reliable local suppliers?
Join us and co-create the future where local food is always within reach!
At the event, we will discuss key challenges of short local food supply chains and look for solutions that can quickly result in positive changes. We will discuss opportunities for direct connection between food suppliers and public institutions, specific measures to improve the accessibility of local food, and ways to optimise transport and storage costs. We will also talk about adapting to legislative requirements and long-term planning, which is crucial for a sustainable and stable future of food supply.
The meeting is not only the opportunity to gain useful information, but also a space for personal meetings, exchange of experiences and the creation of new partnerships. We want to create a bridge between supply and demand and contribute to shortening supply chains in the Podravje area.
Contents of the meeting:
- Mag. Danijela Kocuvan: Introduction, purpose of the meeting, presentation of the Food4CE project and its goals (RRA Podravje – Maribor)
- Dr. Maršenka Marksel: Preparation of the Regional Action Plan for the operation of the ORbITaLA Innovation Hub and preparation of policy guidelines within Food4CE project (UM – Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Architecture)
- Presentation of challenges faced by public institutions in Podravje
- Kindergartens (Alenka Pušnik, head of nutrition organizers in kindergartens in Maribor)
- Primary schools (Matej Pangerl, head of nutrition organizers in primary schools in Maribor)
- Presentation of the challenges faced by local food suppliers in Podravje
- Farm Lesarovi from Formin (Lea Žnidarič)
- Fruit farm Vrecl from Zgornje Hoče (Matjaž Vrecl)
- Farm Žitnik from Starošince (Rosmarie Žitnik)
- Dr. Ana Frelih-Larsen: Measures to support the production of local food for public institutions (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food – MAFF).
- Short presentation of suppliers and their offerings. Round table: How can we bridge the gaps between public institutions and local food suppliers? Understanding price variability in production: How do costs shape fruit and vegetable prices? What types of measures are local suppliers missing? What can policy makers do to help? Participants at the round table: dr. Ana Frelih-Larsen (MAFF), Miša Pušenjak and Gregor Kramberger (Institute of Agriculture and Forestry Maribor), Matjaž Vrecl (Fruit Farm Vrecl), Lea Žnidarič (Farm Lesarovi), Alenka Pušnik and Matej Pangerl (nutrition organizers).
- Visit to suppliers stands, networking between local suppliers and food service organizers.
Contact for more information: mag. Danijela Kocuvan, +386 (0) 41 630 678, e-mail address: danijela.kocuvan@rra-podravje.si
We kindly ask you to register for the meeting by Thursday, April 3rd, 2025, to the email address: aleksandra.satler@rra-podravje.si
We invite you to join us, share your story, express your expectations and co-create the future of the local food supply!
