Giovanni Follador, president of the Pro loco, imagines the restart: many appointments will return with new rules
TREVISO. Giovanni Follador, the “presidentissimo” of UNPLI, the national union of Pro loco, was surprised, attending the first provincial meeting the other night after the lockdown. “I registered a strong desire for recovery, not so much in the traditional festivals as in initiatives, more and more qualified, to revive the territory and the communities. Many Pro loco have even scheduled unplanned initiatives ».
What’s the news of this restart?
«Certainly the willingness, indeed I would even say the generosity, of the Pro Locos to get involved also in supporting the other realities of the reference community. I am only thinking of the restaurant world which has been most affected ».
Unpli strongly advised not to organize food and wine events as much as possible.
«No, we will organize them but in close collaboration with restaurateurs and other operators in the area. It is a form of solidarity with those who have suffered the most serious consequences of the pandemic. And I imagine that this new relationship will continue to last over time ».
Basically, are you saying that there will no longer be any juxtaposition between festivals with polenta and sausage, or with pizza and fried fish, and local restaurants?
“This, at least, would like to be our understanding.”
Some organizers are concerned about compliance with safety regulations.
«Concern, yes, but precisely because of this punctual compliance with the rules. One of the largest organizations, that of “Artigianato vivo” in Cison, has provided for reservations, with a limited number. The Pro loco will do the same for the most popular events ».
What is the balance of the first appointments held?
«The“ Cherry Show ”ended successfully in Maser. Success due not only to popular attendance but above all to the involvement that the Pro loco has consolidated with both producers and restaurateurs ».
In the past there has been some controversy over organized take-away, for example last summer, in some festivals.
“No, no takeaway restaurants. This is the indication we have given to our Pro loco. I know that in some cases particular dishes are cooked; the Pro loco di Fonte, for example, prepares fried acacia flowers, a dish that is not usually found in restaurants and agritourisms for which Fonte has received our green light ».
To some extent, will the demonstrations canceled in the spring also be recovered?
«The Opitergino-Mottense Consortium will recover a May initiative in mid-July. Many Pro loco, among other things, are already at work to prepare the National Day of 11 July which will see the Venetian Unpli as protagonist ».