Slovenian Food Day with Traditional Slovenian Breakfast: »Bread for breakfast – a great day!«

The Traditional Slovenian Breakfast project was first organised in 2011 on the initiative of the Slovenian Beekeepers' Association to raise awareness among the youngest children about the importance of agriculture, the food industry, beekeeping and environmental protection.

Each year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food invites kindergartens, primary schools and educational institutions for children and adolescents with special needs to take part, and the initiative is being extended to other institutions, public bodies and the business sector.

This year, the vast majority of schools and kindergartens joined the project, and in many cases the activities will take place throughout the week, not just for one day.

Traditional Slovenian Breakfast marked by bread

The slogan of this year's Traditional Slovenian Breakfast is »Bread for breakfast - a great day!« Bread is one of the ingredients of a traditional Slovenian breakfast, along with butter, milk, honey and an apple or other local fruit. Bread is not only a “food product”, but also a powerful symbol of cultural heritage and well-being. This year is the International Year of Millet, so this cereal will receive more attention.

The main aim of Slovenian Food Day is to support Slovenian food producers and manufacturers, and to promote local self-sufficiency with good quality food from the local environment.

Beekeepers', farmers' and cooperatives' organisations are united in their efforts to turn Slovenian Food Day into Slovenian Food Week.

Bread, butter, honey, milk and apples in figures

• In 2022, an average of 116 kg of cereals was available for food per person in Slovenia, with a self-sufficiency rate of 72%.
• Last year, Slovenia produced 2,475 tonnes of butter and dairy spreads; 307 tonnes were exported and 2,741 tonnes were imported.
• Last year, an average of 1 kg of honey was available for consumption per person in Slovenia.
• Last year, Slovenia produced almost 150,000 tonnes of drinking milk. We exported 293,629 tonnes of all milk and imported 40,285 tonnes.
• In Slovenia, 48,838 tonnes of apples were produced in intensive orchards and 16,921 tonnes in extensive orchards. If this amount were divided among the entire population of Slovenia, each person would receive 31 kg of apples produced in Slovenia. The self-sufficiency rate for fruit was 29%. Last year, an average of 134 kg of fruit was available for consumption per person.

Source: SURS