The 12th edition of the Santerno Agricultural Fair was inaugurated today, at 6.30 pm, an event which makes the world of agriculture the protagonist in the city and which will also continue on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th June. A now consolidated moment in the city calendar of events that inaugurate the summer season. The Fair returns to its now traditional location, that of the Sante Zennaro complex (located in via Pirandello, 12), an ideal space for the meeting between the agricultural world and the vast public interested in the event. An event much awaited by all citizens and the numerous visitors who numbered 50,000 at the last edition.
The “Santerno Agricultural Fair” is organized by the Municipality of Imola in collaboration with the Canale dei Molini Users Consortium and the support of the agricultural associations Coldiretti, Cia, Confagricoltura and Terra Viva. The economic contribution of the Cassa di Risparmio di Imola Foundation, Cassa di Risparmio di Ravenna Foundation, Hera and Clai Group, Impresa Coromano, Nuova GMA impresa Edile, PineApp, BCC Ravennate Forlivese and Imolese, CACI, Alliance of Italian cooperatives, Astafrutta Altedo and CEER. The event is part of Bologna Estate 2024, the program of activities promoted and created by the Municipality of Bologna and the Metropolitan City of Bologna – Bologna – Modena Tourist Territory.
Inauguration and opening hours – The event was officially inaugurated this afternoon, in the presence of the vice mayor Fabrizio Castellari, of Franco Cima, delegated councilor for agriculture of the metropolitan city, of the councilor for Economic Development-Agriculture Pierangelo Raffini, of the president of the Canale dei Mulini Consortium of Imola, Giordano Zambrini, of the representatives of the agricultural associations.
Following this, the blessing was imparted by Bishop HE Giovanni Mosciatti. The fair will be open according to the following calendar: Saturday 15 June from 9am to 11pm Sunday 16 June from 9am to 9pm. Entrance is free.
The agricultural world comes to the city to meet people: 0 km fruit and vegetables – On an exhibition area of 4,000 m² covered and 60,000 m² uncovered, the event, aimed mainly at the agricultural world, aims to make agricultural products and the values that characterize their production known to an increasingly wider public.
Like every year, there will be a vast area dedicated to the display, tasting and sale of the agricultural and agri-food products of the producing companies, which will be 56, with fruit, vegetables, cured meats, cheeses, honey, jams and much more; the nursery market exhibition, with 6 realities; that of machinery and equipment for agriculture, products for gardening and animal husbandry, with 23 exhibitors.
To enrich this extensive list of products and producers, we add the area dedicated to the zootechnical exhibitions of the native livestock breeds of Emilia-Romagna, which attracts ever greater interest and arouses, year after year, more and more anticipation. On the program this year: the interprovincial Razza Romagnola Cattle Show, with the presence of around fifty animals, organized by Bovinitaly; the XII Interregional Exhibition of the Romagnolo Donkey Breed, which boasts 56 subjects registered in the various categories in its catalogue, including adults and foals; the showcase of the rapid Italian Agricultural Horse Breed; the showcase of sheep and goat breeds and spectacular falconry demonstrations.
The statements
“The park of the Sante Zennaro complex once again opens its doors to the Santerno Agricultural Fair. Agriculture is an excellence of the territory that successfully brings together experience, tradition and innovation. This Fair has always been a high-level event, which has reached regional importance, a complete event which, in addition to sector operators, involves all generations and makes families and children protagonists – underlines the vice mayor Fabrizio Castellari -. An event that is renewed every year and features a wealth of events, meetings, shows, educational workshops and truly precious recreational activities, which support the valorisation of agricultural products, animal husbandry and productions on which this territory wants to continue to be increasingly cutting edge. The Municipal Administration’s and my personal thanks go to everyone: to the Canale dei Molini Users Consortium, to the agricultural entrepreneurs, to the trade associations, to all the entities that collaborate for the success of this event, as well as to all the services and municipal employees who have been putting their energies into play for many weeks to make the event a success. Never like this year has there been a need to make farmers feel the embrace of the territory, after a very difficult 2023 due to the consequences of the floods, the wounds to the territory due to landslides and all the problems that have arisen from it”.
“The 12th edition of the Santerno Agricultural Fair has started, a highly anticipated event in the city and in the area as demonstrated by the over 50,000 attendances every year – declares Pierangelo Raffini, Councilor for Economic Development and Agriculture -. Our agriculture, despite the great problems it has had to face and is still facing following the flood and landslides in the valley, and other negative atmospheric events last year, proves to be alive and resilient, bringing more than 100 operators to the beautiful setting of Sante Zennaro. It is a celebration of the five senses and of families, in particular children who, through workshops and direct contact with the reality of the countryside, can live unique experiences in total safety. It is also a moment of exchange of ideas and culture with numerous events and even dialect shows to keep the tradition alive. The cellars and local festivals then create that essential conviviality so dear to this land. As always, I invite everyone to visit the Fair”.
“We have come from difficult years in which our territory has been put to the test and the exceptional events that also occur in the surrounding territories certainly do not leave us with good omens for the future, however, also for 2024, we strongly want to lend a hand to our territory by organizing, alongside the Municipal Administration, this important initiative which always brings joy and hope to our territory. Being a partner together with the Municipality of Imola of the 2024 Agricultural Fair is a source of pride for us – comments Giordano Zambrini Canale Molini Users Consortium of Imola and Massa Lombarda -. It will be a fair based on the valorisation of the territory and its excellence which will see numerous entrepreneurial activities exhibiting and selling their products, this with a view to restarting and rebirth after what happened in 2023.
Food and wine takes the field – As always, at the Fair there are gastronomic proposals for all tastes. Tasty traditional dishes will be prepared by the “Historical Festivals” of the Imola area, namely: Polentari Group of Tossignano, Antica Società Maccheroni of Borgo Tossignano, Sagra della Piè Fritta Association of Fontanelice, Festa del Garganello Association, ProLoco Belvedere Association, ProLoco Association of Mordano , to which is added the Coop Clai stand.
The Osteria dei Colli d’Imola, present over the three days with the wine cellars of the Colli d’Imola Doc, will present the excellence of the wine production of the area. Furthermore there will be a wide choice of craft beers produced by local breweries. To complete the picture there will be a bar and three ice cream parlors.
Among the great innovations of this 12th edition, a village dedicated to the gastronomic offerings of local farms. Among these we highlight an entirely gluten-free menu, curated by Agriturismo “La Taverna” in Fontanelice.
Plan – The complete program will be available on the Agenda Cultura website (www.culturaimola.it) and on the brand new Fiera Agricola del Santerno App downloadable on all smartphones by PineApp, an Imola-based company specialized in the creation of websites and applications.
Urban Source – Given the appreciation received in the last edition, thanks to the collaboration with the Hera Group, the Urban Source returns to the Fair from which refrigerated natural and sparkling water will be supplied free of charge, avoiding the circulation of disposable water bottles. The advice is therefore to bring your own water bottle or glass.
Shuttle service – The free shuttle to and from the fair is confirmed again this year, departing from the car parks in the Lungofiume area and via Tiro a Segno.
