geofood - local food and geological heritage
GEOfood is food grown or sustainably produced in and around the Geopark. GEOfood aims to support local food production, the local economy and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through local food. GEOfood also aims to support local businesses, educate visitors and residents of the geoparks, raise awareness of the links between local food and geological heritage. The GEOfood label highlights the specificity of the region's geological heritage and its impact on its food and cultural heritage.
GEOfood has been conceived as one of the possible responses of the Geopark to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) and in particular to the global agricultural challenges identified by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations).
GEOfood is an innovative approach to connect all target groups of the population to the ongoing geological history and research in the region: food is an "international language" that anyone can understand. Through food, we want to connect people to the land and nature, and strengthen food education and the responsible use of resources.
GEOfood is for example berries, mushrooms, game, fish from the forests, local agricultural products, and food and dishes made from them to be served in restaurants throughout the Geopark.
entrepreneur - apply for the geofood brand
Members of Saimaa Geopark can apply for the GEOfood brand by filling in the form below. The right to use the brand is free of charge!
In order to brand your product as a GEOfood product, you must confirm that the food in question has been produced in the UNESCO Global Geopark or its buffer zone. You must also comply with the GEOfood criteria and the values defined in the GEOfood Manifesto.
The GEOfood brand shows respect for local producers and products. The brand can help strengthen cooperation between producers, restaurants and shops. This cooperation will not only raise awareness of the region's rich geological heritage among local people, but will also, at its best, create new jobs and economic opportunities for the region.
First read the GEOfood logo user manual and manifesto!
Apply for membership
Saimaa is the 2024 European Region of Gastronomy
The Saimaa region has been awarded the international European Region of Gastronomy status in recognition of the unique food culture of eastern Finland. In the centenary year 2024, international and domestic visitors will be able to experience the purity and uniqueness of Lake Finland with all their senses. The Saimaa region will create events and complexes that combine culture, art and food in an unprecedented way. In the Saimaa European Region of Gastronomy 2024, the aim is to make the Saimaa region an internationally attractive tourist destination, with food and culture at its heart.
