007-2012-NOA_promotion tasting_new_lettuce_varieties.docx

Photo: Besfort Morina, NOA The Chef’s many lettuce creations.

Photo: Agron Selmani, NOA Local lettuce growers showing off their lettuce varieties to traders and hotel/restaurant owners.

U.S. Agency for International Development www.usaid.gov Photo: Besfort Morina, NOA Chef Klaus Dieter Busch of Emerald Hotel whisks away tasty lettuce recipes for guests.

Pristina, Oct. 17, 2012 - USAID’s New Opportunities for Agriculture Program gathered at least 40 lettuce producers, restaurant and hotel owners at the promotion of new lettuce varieties event. The promotion was held during UN World Food Week.

The gathering was an opportunity to directly link local farmers cultivating new varieties of lettuce (which until now have been imported) with buyers of the product – restaurant and hotel owners/managers.

Elizabeth Santucci, USAID’s private sector advisor commended the event calling it “Made in Kosovo”. She encouraged traders to buy local products stressing that “USAID through its activities will continue to support the agriculture sector.”

The newest lettuce varieties were used to demonstrate and prepare 12 recipes by Emerald’s Chef Klaus Dieter Busch, including: Ice Berg, Baby Leaf, Romain, Salanova, etc. After tasting the salad greens, guests had an opportunity to establish direct contact and generate business on the spot with producers and cultivators of the new lettuce varieties.

USAID through its New Opportunities for Agriculture (NOA) Program, from its beginning has introduced eight (8) new types of lettuce to Kosovo famers and along with that new growing technologies in the cultivation of these varieties.

The Program will continue to facilitate and support the lettuce industry in Kosovo in becoming a more sustainable and profitable value chain.

PROMOTION AND TASTING OF NEW LETTUCE VARIETIES

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