Por Redaccion 
We are pleased to announce that we have confirmed dates for one of the most important events for the agri-food sector in Vélez-Málaga and the entire province. Our urban center will host a high-profile event where all kinds of experiences will be available to citizens and visitors. The plan to diversify, revitalize, and highlight our urban environment will have a new chapter on the weekend of June 13-15 with the celebration of the «Sabor a Málaga» Fair, which is conceived as «a meeting place and gathering around the most significant and traditional products of our Malaga land,» as described by the mayor of Vélez-Málaga, Jesús Lupiáñez. The event will feature 38 confirmed exhibitors. The initiative was unable to be held when originally scheduled in March due to adverse weather forecasts.
One of the major novelties will be the setting up of stands on the Andalucía promenade, a space with enough space and functionality to accommodate the expected large turnout for this important agri-food event. This location will replace Calle Canalejas. The stands will offer attendees «the high quality of our local products,» making our municipality a provincial reference point for our producers and restaurateurs to showcase the excellence of our production,» highlighted the local mayor, with the addition of other activities such as tastings, showcookings, workshops, and special presentations of food for foreign audiences. All of this will be accompanied by live music.
«The great success of these events is largely due to good organization, the attractiveness of our artisan products, and the connection with musical and other entertainment,» emphasized Jesús Lupiáñez, who sees this event as «a unique opportunity for Vélez-Málaga to host this event, which will be a strong boost to the agri-food sector in the area and position us prominently for representatives from across the province.» He also emphasized «the showcase of our municipality for visitors, the beauty and charm of our Historic Center,» as well as an important starting point for «the commercialization of our gastronomic attractions.»
The promotional brand «Sabor a Málaga,» promoted by the Provincial Council of Malaga, which focuses on the quality and authenticity of our agri-food products, aims to unify the highest quality foods in the province under a global image, with the goal of promoting the Malaga agri-food sector both within and outside our territory, as well as its contribution to the revitalization of the local economy and the creation of employment in the agricultural and agri-food sector.
The provincial delegate for Human Resources, Sandra Extremera, during the presentation of the gastronomic event, highlighted the key role of the weekend of June 13-15. «The goal is to convey the richness and essence of all our products and the offerings provided by our producers.» She praised «the significant commitment made by the Vélez-Málaga City Council» in the revival of a fair «that could not have a better host than this municipality.» Extremera extolled the main aspects in defense of initiatives of this nature: «It is a complete proposal of local products, culture, and leisure, which participants can enjoy, as I said, in a unique setting, Vélez-Málaga.»
The director of «Sabor a Málaga,» Leonor García-Agua, highlighted a brand that «continues to grow and expand beyond the national territory,» and will have its mark in Vélez-Málaga on a weekend where «we will enjoy in an unbeatable and well-cared-for environment like the Andalucía promenade, with restaurateurs, merchants, and numerous workshops for all ages, I hope that many people will visit us to recognize the great work of Malaga producers.»
Based on these elements, the foundations are laid for the recovery of an event that was previously held in Vélez-Málaga and has now been reinstated «to champion food products, the Malaga products, which are among the best in the world, meeting the highest quality standards,» emphasized Jesús María Claros, councilor of Agri-food at the Velez-Malaga City Council. «We must make a joint effort by administrations, distributors, and sellers to enhance the quality of our products,» reflected Claros, very aware of the common path to work towards promoting the wealth that our land provides us, and with which «we set ourselves apart in terms of quality and qualification in our gastronomic offerings to the outside world.»
«The richness of our pantry is undoubtedly proven, there is no doubt about it,» highlighted the councilor, who, precisely, raised this issue as a reference point for the «Sabor a Málaga» Fair. The event will arrive in Vélez-Málaga on Friday, June 13, with the presence of 38 confirmed producers from twenty different localities, who will come to the Andalucía Promenade to sell and offer tastings of the best of Malaga’s agri-food sector.
Provincial Capital
With the hosting of the «Sabor a Málaga» Fair, the city becomes the provincial capital of the agri-food segment, let’s not forget that Vélez-Málaga is the head of the region and one of the areas with the highest production of subtropical fruits, exporting to more than 30 countries worldwide. A full program has been designed from the morning with multiple activities and surprises for the enjoyment of attendees, marked by the presence of great food symbols in different regions, such as extra virgin olive oils, wines with PDO «Málaga» and «Sierras de Málaga,» Malaga goat cheeses, traditional and Iberian cured meats, as well as other typical preparations like croquettes, breads, artisanal sweets, local roasted coffees, honeys, table olives, and other appetizers, craft beers, gins, jams, preserves, sugarcane juice, and unique subtropical fruits, among other local delicacies.
Cities like Antequera, Archidona, Ardales, Arenas, Coín, Colmenar, Cútar, Frigiliana, Málaga, Moclinejo, Periana, Ronda, Rincón de la Victoria, or Arriate will take part in this event showcasing the most prominent products of our region. «I strongly encourage all residents to participate in this ‘Sabor a Málaga’ Fair, they will be able to enjoy our most characteristic creations in a healthy, relaxed, and joyful atmosphere of coexistence,» concluded Jesús María Claros.