The value-added marketing – local products in conformity with vital rural areas

Abstract

In the recent years farmers has begun to search for additional on-farm activities in order to satisfy consumers' needs and preferences, and to increase their incomes as well. During that time many alternative forms of tourism have appeared and developed, such as rural tourism, agritourism, cultural tourism, etc. In this regard, the food is supposed to play an essential role in bridging agriculture and tourism, and consequently to reveal an opportunity for SMEs to develop the existing niche market, and to enhance sustainability and vitality of local areas. The survey is a part of FP7 Project, entitled "Farming transitions: Pathways towards regional sustainability of agriculture in Europe" (FarmPath), carried out on the area of the Municipality of Elena, located in the Central-north part of Bulgaria. This region is typical with its unique local resources, combining the tourism advantages, local people, and the traditions in agriculture, food and culinary as well. This case study aims at introducing and disseminating "a new form of local governance", which will bring some form of health or ethical benefits both for the consumers and the community as a whole, and will promote the people, places, best farming practices, and the cuisine in the area. The value-added products are considered as an essential and adequate marketing tool in order to achieve this synergy effect and the already set up purpose.

Chemical Compositions, Antioxidant Activities, and Mineral Matter Contents of Achillea collina Becker ex Rchb from the Flora of Bulgaria

“…In Bulgaria, the management plan emphasizes its goals on the image and quality management of the Bulgarian flora. The competition on the herbal market in the international plan is high, which requires the rational use of the wide varieties and introduced samples, to create sustainable programs for various maintenance and to build zoning points in places suitable for growing medicinal plants (Dzhabarova & Peneva, 2017).…”

“…A. collina is a common species for the Central Europe and rich in monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes and more than 120 chemical compounds have been identified (Nemeth, 2005). Various assays have been used in order to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of herbal products and foods (Somogyi et al, 2007;Dzhabarova & Peneva, 2017).…”