Azores brand is essential tool for promoting regional products and services, highlights António Ventura - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação

The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food reiterated today that the Azores Brand "is an essential tool for promoting regional products and services."

António Ventura spoke at the end of the campaign to promote products from Santa Maria Island, carried out by the Azores Brand Management and Promotion Office, which took place on that island between July 8 and 12.

"Valuing local produce, combined with new ways of working with and presenting products, was the aim of the meeting between chefs on the island of Santa Maria, culminating in a presentation at the Ponta Negra restaurant, the first restaurant to be certified with the Azores Brand label on the island," he said.

For five days, chefs José Pereira (ÕTAKA restaurant in São Miguel), André Cruz (FEITORIA* Michelin restaurant in Lisbon) and João Sá (SÁLA* Michelin restaurant in Lisbon) were in close contact with the 12 Azores Brand promoters from that island, seeking to deepen their knowledge and contribute to their promotion and development, especially outside the archipelago. 

With this initiative, the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, through the Azores Brand Management and Promotion Office, and with the support of Visit Azores, "intended to create a space for sharing knowledge and expertise among local restaurants and guest chefs," added António Ventura. This was also achieved through privileged contact with food entrepreneurs and those in the catering, retail and tourist entertainment sectors.

There are currently 12 promoters in Santa Maria, with a total of 298 Marca Açores stamps, namely "Cagarrrita"; "AçorCactus"; "Agromariensecoop; "Cooperativa de Artesanato de Santa Maria"; "Mantamaria - Comércio Indústria e Turismo; "Outromundo - Atividades de animação turística e restauração"; Peixaria Filipe & Gorete"; "Talhos Ilha do Sol"; "Mascote Ilha Amarela"; "Ângelo de Chaves Braga", ARCOA - Associação Regional de Criadores de Caprinos e Ovinos dos Açores"; and "Restaurante Ponta Negra," the only one on the island with the Azores Brand certification.