The Rugova Canyon is home to one of Kosovo’s own mineral waters -Rugovë.
This 25 km long canyon is located in the west, close to the border with Montenegro. Kosovo’s second largest city, Pejë, is located at the entrance of the canyon. Not only is this one of the nicest places in Kosovo with fresh air and beautiful mountain and valleys, it’s also a natural source that helps the economy of the Republic of Kosovo go around. There’s no doubt that Kosovo is a developing country on close to every level in society. And sometimes, big government processes maybe isn’t the solution from the beginning…
The Rugova Canyon, "Gryka e Rugovës", Kosovo, march 2009
When living in Kosovo, writer and poet Elizabeth Gowing single-handedly started a little campaign to promote the importance of local foods for the Kosovo economy by printing campaign business cards and giving them to waiters in restaurants where Kosovo products were not an option on the menu.
The people of Kosovo are passionate about their country. But their passion doesn’t always extend to the products of their country. And Kosovo’s international visitors’ snobbery, ignorance or fear fuels a sense that the products of Kosovo are inferior to their imported equivalents. So fewer people buy Kosovan mineral water, fruit juice, milk, honey, vegetables, beer, wine, handcrafts… And less money goes into the Kosovan economy, so the quality of Kosovan mineral water, fruit juice, milk, honey, vegetables, beer, wine, handcrafts… decreases.
Ujë burimi Rugovë - Rugova spring water from Kosovo
Kosovo has such delicious water (from Kllokot, Rugova, Dea…) and yet I keep being served mineral water here that has flown for miles, and is enriching the economy of Italy rather than Kosovo. I’m wondering how many people asking for Kosovan water in the cafes it will take to change what’s made available…Will you stop drinking San Pellegrino and start asking for Kosovan mineral water?
Buying products imported from all over Europe makes no sense when excellent products are made right in the heart of the country itself, many of which are often cheaper than imported alternatives. When I lived in Kosovo last summer I only enjoyed the country’s own quality vegetables, fine wine and great beer, as well as the local water. Buying local products to a larger extent would truly do the economy of this little Balkan country more than good.
The art of starting small
The Rugova Canyon is home to one of Kosovo’s own mineral waters -Rugovë.
This 25 km long canyon is located in the west, close to the border with Montenegro. Kosovo’s second largest city, Pejë, is located at the entrance of the canyon. Not only is this one of the nicest places in Kosovo with fresh air and beautiful mountain and valleys, it’s also a natural source that helps the economy of the Republic of Kosovo go around. There’s no doubt that Kosovo is a developing country on close to every level in society. And sometimes, big government processes maybe isn’t the solution from the beginning…
The Rugova Canyon, "Gryka e Rugovës", Kosovo, march 2009
When living in Kosovo, writer and poet Elizabeth Gowing single-handedly started a little campaign to promote the importance of local foods for the Kosovo economy by printing campaign business cards and giving them to waiters in restaurants where Kosovo products were not an option on the menu.
On her website, it reads:
The people of Kosovo are passionate about their country. But their passion doesn’t always extend to the products of their country. And Kosovo’s international visitors’ snobbery, ignorance or fear fuels a sense that the products of Kosovo are inferior to their imported equivalents. So fewer people buy Kosovan mineral water, fruit juice, milk, honey, vegetables, beer, wine, handcrafts… And less money goes into the Kosovan economy, so the quality of Kosovan mineral water, fruit juice, milk, honey, vegetables, beer, wine, handcrafts… decreases.
Ujë burimi Rugovë - Rugova spring water from Kosovo
Elizabeth established the Facebook group “Could I have a glass of Kosovan mineral water please (A mundem m’e pase nje gote e ujes të Kosovës)” to increase the awareness of Kosovo products. The description of the group reads:
Kosovo has such delicious water (from Kllokot, Rugova, Dea…) and yet I keep being served mineral water here that has flown for miles, and is enriching the economy of Italy rather than Kosovo. I’m wondering how many people asking for Kosovan water in the cafes it will take to change what’s made available…Will you stop drinking San Pellegrino and start asking for Kosovan mineral water?
Buying products imported from all over Europe makes no sense when excellent products are made right in the heart of the country itself, many of which are often cheaper than imported alternatives. When I lived in Kosovo last summer I only enjoyed the country’s own quality vegetables, fine wine and great beer, as well as the local water. Buying local products to a larger extent would truly do the economy of this little Balkan country more than good.
Join the Facebook group today! Also read Elizabeth Gowing’s article on the matter in New Kosova Report: “Your money where you mouth is: Why Kosovo needs us to eat local“.
Photo courtesy: Anna Wiman.