Olot's Plaça Mercat launched the 9th International Markets Week on 15 May 2026, highlighting the Minva project, which gives a second life to food surpluses. This initiative, part of the international “Love Your Local Market” campaign, focuses on reuse and traditional Girona gastronomy.
The Minva project, supported by Olot City Council, combines the fight against food waste with local cooking and produce. Chef Pere Planagumà designed a range of gastronomic products from market surpluses and leftover ingredients. These products include escudella broth, fish broth, legume broth, mountain salt, vinaigrette, and Ranciet, which is rancid pork fat with fried cured sausage, longanissa, and loin trimmings.
These items are made using traditional recipes, slow processes, and minimal intervention. The launch included a tasting workshop, attended by Vanessa Peiró from Girona Provincial Council, Imma Muñoz, a councillor for Olot City Council, Gemma Canalias, Councillor for Commerce and City Promotion, Jordi Vilarrasa, president of Olot market stallholders, and Chef Pere Planagumà.
Promoting Local Produce and Reducing Waste
The International Markets Week emphasises the role of stallholders in promoting local produce. They offer tips and recommendations for making the most of purchases and cooking. This year's campaign continues the theme “Don't be shy. Ask at the market!”
Girona Provincial Council coordinates the initiative, with active participation from markets in Girona, Olot, Palafrugell, Palamós, Portbou, Roses, Salt, and Sant Feliu de Guíxols. These markets are all members of the Girona Network of Sedentary Markets (XMSG). Lloret de Mar market is not participating this year due to ongoing renovation work.
Sixteen Days of Activities Across Girona
Until 31 May, the participating markets will offer nearly daily activities related to cooking and gastronomy. There are fourteen proposals in total, mostly free and open to all ages. Stallholders will also share advice and recommendations on market social media channels.
The programme includes cooking workshops, guided shopping tours, specialised tastings, talks, and live culinary demonstrations, such as learning anchovy preservation or a sensory experience with quality coffees. Full details of all activities are available on the official website.
The International Markets Week also features customer promotions. For example, at Girona's Lleó market, customers spending €50 or more on accumulated tickets will receive a foldable, reusable bag.
In Olot, planned talks include one by Gregori from El Racó de la Llum on alleviating allergies and asthenia, a sensory journey through speciality coffee by Ca la Paquita, a guided tour with Adrià Aumatell ending in a workshop using Olot market products, and a sushi initiation workshop with Quina Barra restaurant.
Origins of the Initiative
The international campaign started in the UK in 2011. It has grown steadily and now includes over 4,000 markets from 19 countries worldwide. The XMSG markets and Girona Provincial Council joined in 2018. Their goal is to highlight markets as community hubs and meeting points, as well as places to learn about fresh, local, and seasonal products.
