Family farm OPG Vidas from Novalja won a gold plaque at the 27th exhibition of Croatian sheep and goat cheeses, held on 22 October at the Olea Hotel. The new recognition came just a few weeks after the farm’s paški sir was awarded gold at this year’s Autumn in Lika.
Smiljana Grgić Vidas represented the farm at the exhibition, according to a post on OPG Vidas’s Facebook page. The gold plaque was presented by Tomislav Vidas, president of the Croatian Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders. The farm stated: "It is an understatement to say that we are proud and happy."
The cheese exhibition was held as part of the 28th conference for sheep and goat breeders in the Republic of Croatia, taking place on 22 and 23 October in Novalja. The organisers were the Croatian Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders and the Croatian Agency for Agriculture and Food, with patronage from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Lika-Senj County and the City of Novalja.
The gathering is intended for the exchange of knowledge and experience, as well as the education of breeders. The programme covers animal feeding and health protection, the preservation of native breeds, milk production and processing, and opportunities for farm development. The exhibition showcases products from domestic family cheese dairies, while professional evaluation provides producers with guidelines for improving quality.
OPG Vidas was also awarded at the beginning of October in Gospić, at the 28th Autumn in Lika. For its paški sir, a hard sheep’s cheese, it received a gold award at the 20th cheese evaluation. The farm’s paški sir also stood out at last year’s 26th exhibition of Croatian sheep and goat cheeses, held in Poreč, where it was declared champion in the sheep’s cheese category.
Paški sir is one of five agricultural and food products from the Lika-Senj County whose names are protected at the European Union level. Alongside paški sir, Lički krumpir (Lika potato), Lička janjetina (Lika lamb), Lički škripavac (Lika squeaker) and Paška janjetina (Pašman lamb) have European protection. Paški sir has held the protected designation of origin since 25 November 2019.
