The blue cheese ‘ERREKA’, produced by Kortariko Borda (Lekaroz), wins the 3rd ESNEKI Cheese and Dairy Competition in the Basque Country
Thanks to the ESNEKI special trade fair, Tolosa once again became the place to be for producers and lovers of cheese and dairy products. Organised by Tolosa Town Council, HAZI and the Basque Government, and with the support of the Basque Culinary Center, Leartiker Dairy Centre, EFRIFE, GIFE and Tolomendi, ESNEKI is back with a bang for the third year, strengthening its roots and capturing the public’s attention.
Competitions and special trade fair
A total of 101 products were entered for this prestigious event, the third Cheese and Dairy Competition to be held in the Basque Country. The jury was composed of 24 people from the food world.
The contest is divided into nine categories: lactic cheese, soft-paste cheese, blue cheese, hard cow’s cheese, hard sheep’s cheese, hard goat’s cheese, yoghurt and pasteurised cow’s milk. The winners were divided into two sub-categories: dairy products from milk produced in-house and dairy products from milk purchased from third parties.
Finally, from all the winners in each category, the jury held a second tasting to choose the champion of all champions. The ‘ERREKA’ cheese in the blue cheese category, made by Kortariko Borda from Lekaroz, was the winner of this award for the best cheese in the Basque Country. Irati Usandizaga expressed her joy and excitement as she collected the trophy, diploma and txapela (Basque beret) with her family.
As for the market, a total of 25 producers from all over the Basque Country set up their stalls in Tolosa town centre. You could buy and sample cheeses and dairy products of all types, ages, flavours and colours.
At the same time, the 15th Friesian Cow Contest was held at the Tolosa Exhibition Centre. 88 heads of cattle were entered from 7 farms in the Basque Country and Navarre, divided into eight categories based on the age of the cattle.
Immersed in the dairy industry
In addition to the special fair and the competitions, other types of activities took place within ESNEKI. For example, at the Beotibar pelota court, for the third year running, our Dairy Centre held guided tastings to reveal the wide variety of cheeses produced in the Basque Country and it was a huge success, with all the tickets selling out in advance.
Meanwhile, countless families came to the ‘Errapetik ahorainoko bidea’ workshop held yesterday at the Exhibition Centre and the ‘Esnetan’ activity area set up today on Paseo San Francisco. Among other things, the children learnt how to feed calves and distinguish between different types of milk and also discovered the process involved in creating dairy products, using a milking simulator.
Successful turnout and high attendance
Aitor Agirresarobe, the Councillor for Trade, Tourism and Fairs in Tolosa Town Council, remarked on the high “turnout” and level of attendance at this third edition of Esneki: «we have witnessed the power of collaboration between different actors, and the sector and public have once again responded positively. Esneki is yet another effort to highlight the work of cheese and dairy producers and to show the diversity of the Basque Country, so that cheese, milk and dairy products remain at the very heart of our diet», explained Agirresarobe.
The Basque Minister for Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries, Amaia Barredo, also highlighted the work of producers: «The Esneki trade fair provides a golden opportunity to strengthen our traditional gastronomy and livestock farming, and demonstrates the quality and diversity of Basque dairy products and cheeses. We must continue promoting the sector as a resource at the cornerstone of our diet, to protect local producers and ensure that they remain competitive».
