2020
The international fair "Organska Trpeza" is the first of its kind, and this year it was organized for the third time. The fair has already grown into a tradition where rural farmers are given the opportunity to network to share experiences and good practices to find and overcome the challenges and problems they face individually and recognize the value of their products.

 The "Organska Trpeza" fair was held outdoors on September 12, 2020, in front of the city swimming pool in Kumanovo, in accordance with the measures for the prevention of Covid 19 and the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and the commission for the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases, i.e. using disinfectants, wearing protective masks and maintaining physical distance, starting at 8:00 a.m. with the arrival of the participants and and arranging the stands. The official part of the event started at 12:00, with the ceremonial opening of it by the president of the "Life" association, Mrs. Blagica Gavrilovska Cvetkovic. Mr. Maksim Dimitrievski, Mayor of the Municipality of Kumanovo, Mr. Trajan Dimkovski, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and Mr. Goran Damevski, Deputy Director of the IME Program of the Swiss Embassy, ​​emphasizing the importance and significance of such events

In this section, certificates of appreciation were awarded for supporting the event to:

1. Program for increasing market employability of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

implemented by Palladium;

2. Mr. Maksim Dimitrievski, Mayor of Kumanovo Municipality

3. Major General Pavle Arsoski, Commander of Operations Command

4. Mrs. Cvetanka Ivanovska, acting director of PE "Cleanliness and Greenery", Kumanovo

5. Mr. Toni Dimitrievski - Sheik, owner of "Dominos Etno" dooel, Skopje

 The purpose of the event was to organize an event to preserve the tradition of food production, but also mutual acquaintance and exchange of experiences and knowledge of organic and other food producers from rural areas, both from Macedonia and from neighboring countries.

100 stands were set up at the event, 75 exhibitors took an active part, of which 7 local, 65 regional and 3 international. The event was attended by about 1500 visitors, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, ARM, JP Pasishta, representatives from Embassies, APPRM, Employment Agency, representatives from the Local Self-Government of municipality of Kumanovo, representatives from the Chamber of Organic Producers, representatives from the Chamber of Craftsmen, representatives from the Planning Regions, as well as representatives from domestic and international civil society organizations, local population and media.

 The fair exhibited organic agricultural products, organic animal products, organic honey and honey products, organic and traditional dairy products, organic cosmetics, alternative medicine products and balms, products from wild plants, organic fertilizers and substrates, organic confectionery and bars, organic juices, marmalades, jams, organic cereal products, fresh and dried fruits and vegetables, organic coffee, organic vinegar, wine, beer and brandy, spreads, toppings and pate, bakery products, traditional Macedonian products, dishes. Agencies, federations, associations, governmental and non-governmental organizations, chambers of commerce, financial houses, publishing houses, portals, associations, nutritionists and certifiers who help and promote organic production in their own way were also presented. There were also exhibitors who are manufacturers or distributors of equipment, machines, packaging for the production, processing and packaging of organic products.

 In addition to food operators, companies engaged in the production and trade of equipment and packaging for the processing, packaging, labeling and monitoring of food products, as well as manufacturers and importers of preparations and fertilizers for organic production, also expressed their interest in participating in the event. print and electronic media and TV houses, chambers of commerce from the country and abroad, as well as diplomatic missions and embassies.

 This year, the fair event was enriched and expanded with participants from social entrepreneurship enterprises that are engaged in organic production, as well as associations and organizations that cherish our tradition, and at the same time nurture and preserve the old crafts.

 The fair was an excellent basis to give visibility to both the products and the producers. Therefore, from an organizational point of view, we also provided a space with set tables and chairs as well as appropriate material, needed to enable B2B meetings, which were scheduled in advance. A total of 23 B2B meetings between producers, processors and exporters were held, and 5 memoranda of cooperation were signed.

 After the event was over, survey questionnaires were distributed to the participants to evaluate the results of the Organic Table Fair. All participants have been contacted, from whom we received positive comments and support for the fair.

A large number of participants expressed interest in participating in the next fair in 2021. On the website of the association www.zivot.org.mk are published pictures, video recordings and announcements about the fair published in the media and on social networks. All participants of the fair were awarded certificates for participation in the third international fair of organic and traditional products, Organic Table 2020.

The association ZIVOT plans to hold this fair continuously in the following years. Preparations for the "Organic Table 2021" fair will begin at the beginning of the new year, and the fair is expected to last several days and contain several activities.