During the seminar, attendees were informed about several topical topics to benefit everyone involved in local food distribution. We reported on what we have learned and can take from the Baltic Sea States project “Local Food Business-To-Business Distribution Model” and presented a guide for new entrepreneurs and food distribution networks “How to distribute local food in a Business-to-Business (B2B) network”.

As part of the project, a long-term strategy and action plan for LPKS "Kuldīgas labumi" has been developed, based on the results of a customer survey on the purchase of products from small producers and home producers, as well as B2B development opportunities have been analyzed. Gunita Šteinberga, Chairwoman of the Board of LPKS "Kuldīgas labumi", shared her experience, future plans and challenges in participating in the "Baltic Sea Food" project.

In turn, representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture provided information on several important legislative issues that directly or indirectly affect or could affect any existing or future home producer:
- news for the support and operation of cooperatives, the distribution of products from local producers;
- on the permitted amount of benzopyrene in smoked products;
- on the list of plants prohibited for use in food;
- rules for donating food with an expired “best before” date;
- the use of the EU derogation for the use of champagne bottles and corks for other beverages;
- the use of hemp in food products;
- requirements for goat's milk and raw cow's milk;
- what products cafes and restaurants are allowed to purchase from home producers and farmers.

>>>Event program

The aim of the project “Baltic Sea Food” is to promote the implementation of the B2B (business-to-business) distribution model in order to support local food producers in the rural areas of the Baltic Sea region as much as possible. As part of the project, food cooperatives and individual food producers in the pilot region will have the opportunity to participate in training on promoting and marketing their products, learn about B2B (business-to-business) trade promotion opportunities and distributing their products – to hotels, restaurants, tourist farms and shops. One of the tasks of the project is to ensure that guests and local residents have wider opportunities and access to enjoying local food.