BERLIN, Germany — Next year, when the International Green Week Berlin takes place for the 70th time, from 21 to 30 January, many of Germany’s federal states will be supplementing their displays in the CMA hall or in the section “Living in the Country” with their own individual presentations of typical regional produce, thus emphasising the importance of this trade fair for regional marketing. These displays offer visitors a wealth of attractions and are among the most popular aspects of this event.For the first time the Brandenburg Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment is launching a competition in a search for new ideas to be applied in the design of its hall at this exhibition. Some of the initial announcements by the federal states have already given an indication of the attractions that await visitors to the next Green Week.

Bavaria: delicacies direct from the farm

Exhibitors from the state ofBavariawill be located in Hall 23b. “Let’s go to Bavaria” is the slogan of the combined Bavarian stand, featuring presentations by the providers of “Holidays on the Farm” and by various direct marketing companies on an area measuring some 460 sq metres. The best-known holiday regions will be presenting some of their customs, culture and traditions on a stage. In addition to “Farm Holiday Attractions” visitors will also be able to enjoy various Bavarian delicacies and specialities, ranging from Franconian farm butter to smoked produce direct from the farms of Lower Bavaria. Next year the Bavarian stand, part of the combined display by the German agricultural sector in Hall 20, will feature seven of the state’s companies and organizations with their own typical regional delicacies. The inclusion over many years of specialities from Germany’s largest federal state has created a large and loyal customer base, which ensures an increasing demand for these products each year.
 
Brandenburg: state’s hall has been designed in the form of a large garden

In January 2005 the Brandenburg Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment will be exhibiting for the 15th time at the International Green Week in Berlin. Rural development and consumer protection are among the leading topics covered by the IGW. For the Land Brandenburg this display at the trade fair inBerlinis an ideal opportunity to highlight its attractions as a business location. Agriculture and the food industry are an important component of the economy in Brandenburg and are the largest single source of employment in rural areas. For these companies participation in the Green Week plays an important role in confirming the value of their products and it provides a test market for new specialities too. Important commercial sectors inBrandenburgsuch as the suppliers of rural accommodation, holiday and leisure facilities in the country, and tourism in natural surroundings, as well as the providers of services in areas such as wellness, the craft trades and cultural activities all enjoy a higher profile as a result of their exposure in Berlin.

For the 13th time the Brandenburg Hall, no. 21a, will provide a meeting place for agriculture and the food industry, as well as helping to promote the many and varied attractions of this state, especially for tourists who are keen to experience the countryside. And the Brandenburg Hall is being given a make-over to aid this process. Visitors and exhibitors will be able to meet in Brandenburg’s large garden, where they can experience the sights and sounds of the state's countryside and acquaint themselves with its products. For ten days the slogan will be “Brandenburg– experience the countryside” on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.

Mecklenburg-West Pommerania: launch of the “MWP Culinary Journey”

“Mecklenburg-West Pommerania is good for you” is how this state in the north east of the country will be promoting itself again in 2005, with its own hall. Around nine tenths of all visitors to the fair, a total of some 430,000 people, came to Hall 5.2b during the IGW 2004. “That was a great success for us and we intend to follow it up again in 2005”, according to Mecklenburg-West Pomerania’s Agriculture Minister Dr. Till Backhaus. In 2005 all of the north east’s regions will be on display in the 3,000 square metre hall in accordance with the principle “A whole state in a concentrated form”. In addition five companies from Mecklenburg-West Pommerania have applied to exhibit on a combined stand in Hall 20, where all of Germany’s states will be presenting their regional specialities.

The Green Week will also be the venue for the launch of the “MWP Culinary Journey“, which next year will involve the state’s Agricultural Ministry, the catering industry association in Mecklenburg-West Pommerania, DEHOGA MV, and the broadcasting network NDR. Each day leading chefs from the region will be using local produce to prepare typical recipes, which can be sampled while they are still fresh. Mecklenburg-West Pommerania is a popular tourism destination too, and there are close links between agriculture, the food industry, tourism and catering. This year the state tourism association will again be presenting a comprehensive display, in collaboration with various regional and tourism associations. In addition a number of the region’s counties will be featured in the displays, along with companies from the local food industry. The state’s agricultural marketing association, Verein Agrarmarketing Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e.V., will be staging a combined presentation, along with some of its member companies. Hall 5.2b will also include plenty of entertainment. There will be two stages where visitors can enjoy a varied programme featuring some of the state’s own performers. In accordance with past tradition the State Day will take place on the first Saturday of the fair, and in 2005 it will be organised by representatives of the county of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Lower Saxony: tasty specialities and tourism highlights as well

Over the yearsLower Saxony’s own hall has proved increasingly popular with visitors, and this year there will be a colourful mixture of tasty specialities, information and entertainment. Hall 5.2a will have virtually everything that lovers of good food could wish for. How about sampling some tasty kale in the large “Garden Restaurant”? Or why not take a break in the café, where coffee and cakes will be served? Other stands will provide fresh milk cocktails or crunchy apples, and there will also be a bakery serving country-style loaves and spreading the tempting aroma of freshly baked bread. And just around the corner the delights of good wholesome hams will be announced in true market fashion, along with tempting cheese specialities from the Harz mountains. There will also be opportunities to discover the “magic” of the Weserbergland and the delights of the North Seacoast, and visitors can also try their luck and maybe win a prize during some of the many activities on the stage.

Saxony: Some tasty morsels for the capital and surrounding region

A total of 19 firms fromSaxony’s food industry will be occupying a display area in excess of 1,000 square metres at the International Green Week. Food production and processing is the second largest industry in the state and continues to expand despite difficult market conditions. Many companies are extending their activities beyond their local region and regard the Green Week as a welcome opportunity to acquaint the people ofBerlinandBrandenburgwith their brands and products too. Due to its size, with a population exceeding 4.5 million, this market is one of particular interest to Saxony’s food industry.

This is also one of the reasons why the marketing association Verein Agrar Marketing Sachsen e.V. (AMS), with the support of the Saxony State Ministry for the Environment and Agriculture, is playing a leading role at the Green Week for the second time, despite unavoidable budgetary constraints. This year’s event also features the increased
involvement of regional tourism associations, enabling a greater focus to be placed on individual regions within the state of Saxony. The participating regions includeLeipzigerLand,Erzgebirge, Lausitz and the heathland area of Saxonyrenowned for its many castles. Sales of products fromSaxonycan be increased on a number of new markets as a result of such efforts, which can also have the effect of stimulating tourism to the state.

Saxony-Anhalt: well-known brands, regional food manufacturers

The state of Saxony-Anhalt is the largest food producer in eastern Germany and is represented in its own hall, no. 23b, by some 33 exhibitors, who are again presenting a combination of well-known brands and regional food manufacturers. A number of companies, among them Kathi, Halberstädter, Börde Käse and Salzwedeler Baumkuchen, are attending the fair for the fifteenth time. Among the products making their first appearance are premium dietary jams from Zörbiger with a 60 per cent fruit content, and absinth truffle confectionery from Abtshof.

Apart from its food and drinks, Saxony-Anhalt is also proud to present some of its many tourism attractions. Towns such as Weissenfels and Sangerhausen are promoting their sights together with food items that are produced locally. Another major topic is provided by the celebrations commemorating the 1,200th anniversary of the founding of the city ofMagdeburg, which will remain the focus of attention for many days as well as providing numerous surprises during the activities on the Saxony-Anhalt stage. 

Schleswig-Holstein: tasty treats from the coast

With a group comprising some 60 exhibitors Schleswig-Holstein will be demonstrating to consumers and trade visitors at the Green Week 2005 some of the tasty food and drinks as well as the tourism attractions to be found in this state, which lies between theNorth Seaand the Baltic. Schleswig-Holstein is the place for gourmets and the displays in Halls 22a and 20 will include such typical regional products as sprats, shrimps and smoked fish, as well as well-known brands whose names often reveal their local origins. Examples includeFlensburgbeer, sausages from Böklunder-Plumrose, cheeses from Wilstermarsch and Holstein country hams.

This hall will also include details about some of the attractions of Schleswig-Holstein for holidays and leisure activities. Leading chefs from all over the state will be demonstrating some of the tasty dishes that can be prepared using products from Schleswig-Holstein. Various daily slogans have been chosen, such as “from Viking cattle to the pasture-fattened beef from Schleswig-Holstein” to explain in an entertaining way to chefs, gastronomic experts and tourism specialists about the diversity of regional specialities and the particular features of each of the various vacation areas.

On the morning of the state day, 23 January, Hall 20 will concentrate on cabbages and the Dithmarschen region, which is a centre for cabbage production. During the afternoon Schleswig-Holstein will be joining with the representatives of Ostholstein county on the state’s stage in Hall 21b to present a colourful programme of entertainment, information and discussions.