{"id":3712,"date":"2024-08-01T11:22:11","date_gmt":"2024-08-01T08:22:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dossier.org.ua\/news\/tour-to-ua\/"},"modified":"2024-08-04T12:34:29","modified_gmt":"2024-08-04T09:34:29","slug":"tour-to-ua","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.dossier.org.ua\/en\/news\/tour-to-ua\/","title":{"rendered":"Frank conversations of neighbours on mountains background"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(a photo report on the study tour within the frame of the project “Green and Inclusive Agricultural
Policy – Steps Towards”<\/a>)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lysa Mount above Rakhiv. The Rose of Wind meadow<\/a>. All the tallest peaks of the Carpathians are visible from here. And the borders between countries are not visible. <\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

It is hot in the meadow, but the usual summer work does not stop because of this extreme heat \u2014 haymaking, sheep, bees, cheese. Mr Vasyl Nebela, the owner of the mountain farm, confidently guides us through his hot farm, telling us about the mountains and the customs of the local Hutsuls along the way. A tour for tourists usually ends in a small, tidy cheese dairy where you can taste and buy the products of this highland farm. <\/p>\n\n\n

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But we\u2019re not exactly tourists, and while tasting the authentic Hutsul banosh, we ask about working conditions, the sale of mountain products, the support the owner needs today, and compare it to the situation across the borders that are not visible from the meadow. By the way, our colleagues know nothing about banosh. How come, the Italian corn porridge polenta is known all over Europe, but Hutsul banosh is not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


D<\/strong>own in Rakhiv, there is the Museum of Hutsul Bryndzya<\/a>, where you can learn all about the work and life of sheep farmers, history and traditions, visit a meadow in virtual reality and even play a role in traditional Hutsul rituals. And it is very important that they not only immerse visitors in traditions and customs, but also confidently promote local products, which were the first in Ukraine to receive a geographical indication in accordance with EU standards (see more details in our publication<\/a>). Both Vasyl Nebela and Olga Shkuro, the curator of the unique museum exhibition, are members of the Association of Producers of Traditional Carpathian and Highland Cheese, so it is logical that the museum helps to promote the products of local farmers. <\/p>\n\n\n

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R<\/strong>osebay willowherb is the basis of a whole series of Carpathian teas. The owner of the Molfar<\/a> tea factory Eugen Goncharenko is currently in the army, and he tells us about his production over the phone. And the factory\u2019s employees are happy to demonstrate the continuous production process, allow us to help a little and, of course, treat us to the tea. The raw materials for the tea are collected by residents of several surrounding villages in the clearings and forests near the village of Izky, Mizhhiria district. The Molfar tea has organic certification, it is already known throughout Ukraine thanks to its sale on Ukrzaliznytsia trains (Ukrainian railway), and recently brightened business events in Davos, Switzerland.<\/p>\n\n\n

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S<\/strong>hypit Waterfall is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Zakarpattia. There are many offers from locals to climb the mountains by various types of vehicles. Our colleagues are frankly surprised \u2014 such trips should be banned as they are harmful to the mountains and their inhabitants. Thus, another topic for joint discussion is how to protect unique natural sites from uncontrolled wild tourism.<\/p>\n\n\n

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T<\/strong>he Carpathian bee is a separate universe (read more about the Carpathian bee here<\/a>). A unique centre for breeding and reproduction of the Carpathian bees in the village of Vuchkove, a lecture-tasting by Ms Liudmyla Peresta at the Honey House<\/a> in Mukachevo, and professional debates with the leader of Transcarpathian Beekeepers\u2019 association \u201cSribnyy Kray\u201d, Mr Viktor Papp<\/a>. Some of the participants of our tour are professionally engaged in beekeeping, so the group is logically divided into those who listen attentively to everything about bees and honey products, and those who are already ready to cooperate with Ukrainian beekeepers, without waiting for Ukraine\u2019s accession to the EU.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Z<\/strong>akarpattia is called the Silver Land. One of the versions of the name’s origin is existence of many springs with clear, pure water that looks like silver. The wines of the Silver Land do not only mean multinational local traditions, but also the best modern technologies. The association of winegrowers, winemakers and distillers \u201cWines of the Silver Land\u201d<\/a> is rapidly developing and gaining popularity. So far, locally produced wines are not available in Ukrainian retail chains, let alone in neighbouring countries, but this is a matter of time. Read more about the association here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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O<\/strong>ur tour ends in Nyzhnie Selyshche<\/a>. A village cheese factory with ripening cheeses and a magical dungeon, a village rakash (shop) with local products, delicious local ice cream in the yet closed Geleta restaurant. <\/p>\n\n\n

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And a frank conversation with the colleagues from Poland, Slovakia and Romania about what they have seen during these three days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n