·        The Basque race will serve as a showcase for the distinctive brand of original, quality Basque products.

• Part of the Basque Government campaign to support our fishermen and farmers and encourage the consumption of local produce.

The Department of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment, via the Eusko Label brand, is sponsoring the Mountain Jersey for the Itzulia Basque Country 2021 that kicks off on 5 April next in Bilbao. The event will help to meet two of its main objectives: providing support for Basque sport and promoting original, quality local products.

The Eusko Label, a mark of origin and quality, preserves the attributes of products from the Basque primary sector based on tradition, roots, authenticity, excellence and the sustainability of the rural and coastal environment, aspects shared by the Itzulia Basque Country, one of the most important events on the Basque sporting scene.

The initiative is part of a wide-ranging campaign that the autonomous government has implemented to support primary sector producers of quality food and beverages, and to encourage the consumption of such products, especially in the light of current circumstances due to COVID-19, whilst seeking to increase the visibility of the Eusko Label brand.

It joins the “On Egin Bonoak” initiative, which was recently launched to benefit the production and extraction sector and retail trade, whilst boosting tourism in the Basque Country. This provides a €50 voucher for use in Basque accommodation for every €100 spent on agri-foods and fishing products. The vouchers, 30,000 in total, will be issued from 19 April to 31 December 2021.

From 1 June 2021 to 31 December 2022, consumers can exchange their vouchers for stays at any of the Basque accommodation establishments included in the promotion.

So far, a total of 194 accommodation establishments (117 in Bizkaia, 51 in Gipuzkoa and 26 in Alava) and 125 businesses, mostly retail or direct sales, have joined this initiative. These numbers are expected to increase significantly, as the deadline for joining runs until 22 May.

About Eusko Label

Eusko Label is a public initiative brand that identifies and distinguishes agri-food products produced, processed and/or manufactured in the Autonomous Basque Community, with a quality, specificity or uniqueness that exceeds the general average.

Its main objectives are:

• To guarantee a high level of quality for consumers.
• To serve consumers by enabling them to identify product origin and authenticity with total security.
• Defend the work of producers.
• Promote quality production.

The Eusko Label product family is made up of:

Beef from the Basque Country, Eggs from the Basque Country, Chicken from the Basque Country, Suckling Lamb from the Basque Country, White Tuna and Bluefin Tuna, Milk from the Basque Country, Honey, Potatoes from Alava, Peppers from Gernika, Ibarra Chilli, Tomato from the Basque Country, Beans from the Basque Country (Tolosa, Gernika and Araba), Chickpeas from Álava, Lettuce from the Basque Country, Chard from the Basque Country, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Farmhouse Pig and Cereals from Álava.

Produced under the Eusko Label: Processed pork and beef, Euskal Ogia and Euskal Gaztak.