Artisan cheese producers invited to explore new opportunities in international markets

A joint project to enter the export market
The strengths of Latvian artisan cheeses and other high-quality food products lie in their quality, authenticity and natural flavours. To bring these qualities to international markets, Latvia, Estonia and Finland are joining forces in a new three-year EU-funded project, “Export of Latvian, Estonian and Finnish Artisan Cheeses and Other High-Quality Food Products to the United Kingdom”.
The project aims to help small and medium-sized producers prepare for export, develop new business contacts and jointly promote products from the region in the UK market. Activities will include training, exchange of experience, tastings, meetings with potential buyers, participation in international food industry events, and joint marketing activities.
A joint brand, “Northern Baltic Cheese and Fine Foods”, is being developed to provide a platform for promoting and exporting artisan cheeses and complementary high-quality food products from Latvia, Estonia and Finland.
The project partners are the Latvian Rural Tourism Association “Baltic Country Holidays – Lauku ceļotājs”, the Estonian rural tourism organisation and Yrityssalo (Business Salo) in Finland.

Who can join?
Artisan cheese producers, as well as producers of other high-quality food products that complement cheese, are invited to join the export network. These may include producers of jams, marmalades, crackers, biscuits, beverages, honey, chutneys, pickled products and other complementary foods.
The main criteria for joining the joint brand and export network are that the company is registered with the Food authorities, produces food from natural, local and high-quality ingredients, is interested in exporting its products to the UK, and is prepared to actively participate in project activities.

Information session for producers – 8 September
An online information session will take place on 8 September at 10.00 on Zoom, where producers can find out more about joining the joint export network. The session will also cover other opportunities and events relevant to producers:

• World Cheese Awards 2026 - one of the world's leading international cheese competitions, taking place in Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain, from 12 to 15 November. Information will be provided on how to enter cheeses and arrange their shipment to the competition;
• Latvian Cider Route and Cheese Route presentation event on 15 October in Riga, bringing together representatives of the media, tour operators and the HORECA sector;
• Seminar for small-scale cheese producers on 5-6 November, featuring experience from Estonia and Norway and a visit to a cheese production facility in Latvia;
• the forthcoming “Guide to Quality Artisan Cheese Production and Marketing” for cheese producers;
• the opportunity to join the “Cheese Route” https://sieracels.lv, which currently brings together 32 Latvian cheese producers for cooperation, knowledge exchange and joint marketing.

Join the online meeting, 8 September at 10.00: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84457992159?pwd=erywd6wUb95m7F9mb2eOsyxuTrh7MM.1
Meeting ID: 844 5799 2159
Passcode: 755892

Cheese producers can still enter the World Cheese Awards 2026
An especially timely opportunity for Latvian cheese producers is participation in the World Cheese Awards 2026, one of the world's most important international cheese competitions.
The competition will take place in Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain, from 12 to 15 November, bringing together cheese producers and industry professionals from around the world. Participation in an international competition provides an opportunity to receive professional recognition and increase the visibility of a product.
Six Latvian producers are currently known to have entered their cheeses in the competition. Entries are open until 15 September or until the specified participant limit is reached.

Contact and further information
For information about the export network, online meeting and project: Rūta Rulle, Email: ruta@celotajs.lv, Tel.: +371 22452874

This press release has been prepared within the framework of the Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027 project “Exports of Artisan Cheese and Complementary Fine Food products from Latvia, Estonia, and Finland to the UK” (CB1000584), co-financed by the European Union. The Managing Authority of the Programme is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.