Summary of newspaper of the previous day – 25. 2. 2010

Globalization deteriorates quality of Czech beer

Although at present it is still more and more often spoken about a necessity of at least partial return to traditional Czech foods production, the public, even the agricultural public, feels this need especially as a return to production of specialized regional smoked-meat, baking or dairy specialties. However, by a grade higher challenge of the present time is the quality of completely different product which as the only one is felt all over the world as really typical Czech product – the quality of Czech beer. Among others, it has also a direct impact on sale of important agricultural commodities, so malting barley and hops, of course.

ACH: There are more than 60 automats for milk in Czech Republic; others are prepared

More than sixty automatic machines for milk works in Czech towns and municipalities and farmers prepare installation of other machines. It results from statistics published by the Agrarian Chamber (ACH) on its internet sites. The number of milk automats started to increase fast from the last year´s autumn because direct sale of fresh milk is now for farmers economically much advantageous than to supply for a lower price in dairy works. According to statistics of the Agrarian Chamber, several milk automats works in some towns. An imaginary record holder is České Budějovice where people have disposable three milk machines.

Agriculture experienced deepest fall since CR accession into EU last year

The Czech Statistic Office (CSO) issues the first this year´s operating results of agriculture on Friday, February 26. They show a fast decrease in production and the branch operating results. According to preliminary results, the last year´s CR agricultural production decreased in comparison with the foregoing year by 18.06 % to 97.38 billion crowns. It is the weakest results since the CR accession into the EU in 2004. “All the most important agricultural commodities of plant and animal production take a share in the agricultural production fall”, ing. Jiří Hrbek, a director of the department of statistics of agriculture, forestry and environment of the CSO states.

Promotion of regional foods

Czech farmers and food-producers point in a long-term to a growing share of foreign foods on shelves of Czech shops. According to them, they are cheaper, however, often lag behind domestic products in quality. The share of foreign milk products increased by a seventh to 27 % over the last 5 years. More than half of pig meat and over a third of beef meat is from the export. Agrarian chambers in regions support competitions for the best local specialties already for 4 years. Each region has its logo which only the best can have on their food products.