Bergen – Norway’s Creative City – A Seafood Paradise By elevating and connecting the richness of Songkhla’s natural resources and diversity with the availability of quality raw materials from the ocean, Songkhla Province can become a standout province next to other seafood cities from around the world.
What is it that makes a city of quality raw materials and seafood unique and outstanding, eye-catching and UNESCO certified? Bergen, a major port city in Norway, provides a good solution to this question, and stimulates learning and thinking in novel ways.
Compared to other cities along the Scandinavian Peninsula, Bergen appears similar to other major port cities such as Starvanger (Norway) or Cothenburg (Sweden). It’s interior and hidden location, surrounded by a natural fortress of islands and fjords, protects the city from storms and sea winds. The city bustles with wharves, fishing boats and communities trading raw materials and seafood along the coast and on major roads, connected to its long history as a port city dating back almost 1000 years. The distinctive architecture of Bergen’s traditional wharf building, Bryggen, has earned it registration as a World Heritage Site.
Bergen’s distinction as a Creative City of Gastronomy, certified in 2015, is due to three important elements:
1. A city known for quality seafood and culinary skills – Bergen is renowned for its high-quality ingredients, leading to the establishment of a vibrant and stimulating gastro-community that has won countless awards for culinary excellence, all the while maintaining the importance of fresh, locally sourced and carefully crafted ingredients with attention to impact on the environment.
2. The city has numerous seafood markets and farmers’ markets where ingredients and food can be purchased directly from producers (fisherman, farmers, small local food producers). Fresh food and ingredients can be traced to their point of origin, and are caught or produced using traditional knowledge, wisdom, and craftsmanship. In addition, Bergen has a famous local restaurant, the menu of which reflects the characteristics of the city, along with an annual food festival.
3. Bergen implements a Vision and Management Plan in order to maintain its value as a city of high-quality raw materials and seafood, with a flagship strategy covering the period 2019-2030.
The vision is clear and concise: “Bergen City of Gastronomy – internationally recognized for sustainable and world-class food experiences”.
Key strategic points include:
1. Bergen must achieve certification as an international City of Gastronomy and remain known as a city which offers world-class food and beverage experiences based on local values and products.
2. Bergen will strive to promote food culture as a key tool for urban development until 2030.
Keywords:
Bergen, gastronomy, sustainability, food culture, benefits of food and gastronomy for better health and quality of life
Returning to Songkhla, in relation to the three elements, the key point can be determined as participation in management from the household level to commercial level, from local markets and connected international trade. It is interesting to note that, carefully considered, Songkhla Province already possesses some of these traits. All that remains is to establish clear common objectives and integrate cooperation in order to achieve success. However, this is a challenging task, and is only possible with the cooperation of the people of Songkhla.
Compiled from
– เว็บไซด์ bergengastronomy.com