Thousands of visitors have been able to enjoy this Saturday the third consecutive day of Fromago Cheese Experience 2024 Cheeses of Spain leaving a really impressive picture in the streets of Zamora with a crowded historic center and an unbeatable atmosphere during the more than two kilometers of the fair.
The economic and social impact on the city is undeniable as thousands of Zamoranos have lived this Saturday in the streets, but also all the tourists who have traveled to Zamora just to enjoy the more than 1,200 types of cheeses that are distributed in the 350 stands of Fromago. The good weather has been the perfect ally to make this an unforgettable day.
Zamora smells of cheese, from the Plaza de la Marina to the Cathedral, during a walk in which to buy all kinds of cheeses, from different regions and countries, and also honeys, sausages, almonds, drinks, and a host of products with which to pair the star product of Zamora’s gastronomy. In addition, the extensive calendar of activities in the street has been key to the enjoyment of the public that has not stopped participating in the round tables that have occurred during the morning and afternoon in the Sala de la Encarnación, but also in the tastings and experiences of cheese in the street, or in the cheese tunnels, which have been seen long queues to access.
The elderly have been able to enjoy, but also the children in the many workshops that have been held in the street, as well as in the elaborations that have been carried out in the stands. The wide cultural offer has also animated the streets throughout the day with parades and dances that have captured the attention of thousands of visitors.
A day that the Vice President of the Junta de Castilla y León and Councilor of Family, Isabel Blanco, from Zamora, did not want to miss either, who has been able to see the fair first hand, from the EILZA stand installed in the Plaza Viriato to the whole tour that she has been able to do accompanied by Sara Fregeneda, president of EILZA.
Blanco highlighted the value that the Fromago fair has for Zamora, assuring that “Fromago 2026 has to be the year of expansion, the goal we have and what the president of the Board said the other day, once this fair is already a national reference, it is already the best in our country, to turn it into the best at international level”.
And he pointed out that “we have put Zamora in the national and international showcase, in this case of the cheese sector and we will continue working, we will continue collaborating to make it the international benchmark fair”.
The parade of Mascaradas of the province of Zamora of the Mascaraza association has opened this day followed by the workshop ‘Fresh cheese making and guided tasting’ at the stand EILZA. At the same time, the Cheese Experiences have started with the participation of Chocolate Refart, Embutidos Turista, Quesos Praizal, Quesos Marina, Quesería Galmara, Airas Moniz, Quesos y Besos, Madrid es Queso, Postres y Lácteos Mare Nostrum and Quesos de Cantabria Quesera paired with Somarroza Ciders.
As in previous days, the round tables were the protagonists of much of the day. On this occasion, on ‘Cheeses with PDO and PGI seal, the differentiated quality’ and has revolved around the value of quality seals as something more than a logo. It has also been held this Saturday, the round table ‘Significance of livestock and the Spanish dairy sector in the promotion of the territory’ and its contribution to rural economic development. This meeting has had the participation of Nuria María Arribas Vera, Managing Director InLac and has closed the morning cycle of ‘Useful tools for the cheese sector’, organized by InLac and which has repeated Nuria María Arribas Vera and Óscar Monzún, Strategic Director of InLac.
Throughout the morning there have been multiple activities such as Pasacalles Coros y Danzas Doña Urraca, the children’s workshops of previous days at the Gaza stand in the Plaza de la Marina, the workshop Cuentaquesamos with Judynski Cuenta y Crea, the exhibition Association bell ringers of Zamora, the elaboration of Cheeses. La Antigua, Performance Choirs and Dance Doña Urraca, the concert group ‘Trio Balanço’ in the Plaza de Caja Rural and DJ Nico in the Plaza del Lechacito.
In the afternoon, also in the Sala de la Encarnación, ‘El diseño también presente en las queserías’, with Javier Garduño, designer and, after him, Chelo López, owner of Quesería Quintian. On another stage, in the Plaza de la Marina, the presentation ‘Raw Milk and Health’ organized by the Spanish Network of Country and Artisan Cheese Factories (QUERED).
Similarly, in this schedule have begun the Cheese Experiences with Eleven Degrees Cheese Factory, La Covacha, Granja Quesería El Pendo, Alimentos del Paraíso Natural, Fontecha Framit Industries, Quesos de Cantabria Quesera y Anchoas de Cantabria paired with Vino Pago Casa del Blanco and Xunta de Galicia – Experiencias de Calidade. Similarly, the Atrium of the Cathedral hosted the ‘Great Tasting: Zamorano Cheese and its multiple harmonies’ and at the EILZA stand there was a cheese-making workshop.
In addition, there has been an oil workshop in Pago Los Bichos, the Showcooking. Cuzeo Restaurant in the Plaza Claudio Moyano, the Pairing of Marcos Conde Cheeses and Fariña Wines in the Mirador del Troncoso, the Elaboration of Cheeses. La Antigua. The professional activities have been accompanied by cultural activities as there has been the parade of giants and big heads ‘El Cerco de Zamora’ of Capitonis Durii, the concert of the group ‘Poptelera’ in the Plaza de Caja Rural, the group ‘Adobe dulzaineros de Macotera’ of Salamanca, the passacaglias Banda de Música de Zamora, the representation ‘Leyendas Zamoranas’, the musical Quintet (JCYL). Dj Nico and, to close, the Zamora Music Band in the Atrium of the Cathedral.
Fromago Commerce and Bar Fest Award
At nine o’clock in the evening, after the concert of the group ‘La poptelera’ that has animated during the evening the Plaza de Caja Rural, has proceeded to the draw for the contest ‘Fromago Commerce and Bar Fest’ organized by Zamora 10 and Caja Rural. Among the thousands and thousands of ballots that have been collected in the different points enabled in the capital of Zamora, the luck has fallen on Eva Victoria Ariza, who was the winner after having previously called Antonio del Castillo. As he did not respond to the call, a new ballot was selected and went to Eva, who was in the vicinity and, after answering the call, has approached the stage of Caja Rural.
This Sunday, at 12 noon, in this same space, Eva will be weighed and will receive her weight in cheese and products from Zamora. The expectation is at its highest for a unique and special event like this.
The Marina Cheese Tunnel is sold out.
Faced with the number of visitors that the city has received today, the international cheese tunnel located in the Plaza de la Marina has exhausted its stocks. In total, more than 300 kilos of cheese with which he began to delight the public this Thursday and, after a resounding success, has ended today.
The organization thanks all those who have managed to make this milestone a reality and reminds that the cheese tunnels in Plaza de Viriato and Plaza de la Catedral will continue to operate at full capacity during this Sunday, the last day of Fromago 2024.
