Interest in local food has increased dramatically in Norway since the turn of the millennium, with sales doubling from 2010 to 2018. Locally produced food from Valdres is no exception, and the Rakfiskfestivalen in Fagernes, one of the largest food festivals in Norway, is a good showcase for direct sales of local food products, while the major food chains have seriously opened their shelves to locally produced food from Valdres. It's no secret that animals with large and fine pastures in the beautiful mountain scenery of Valdres provide high-quality food products with extra good taste.
The municipalities in Valdres have placed great emphasis on developing local food production to make the region a food destination for cottagers and other visitors. Valdres is one of the few regions that can boast two products with protected geographical indications, including "Kurv frå Valdres" and "Rakfisk frå Valdres", which are highly recognized local food products. This means that the approved producers have the exclusive right to use the designation and are protected by a separate regulation issued by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.
Valdres offers a wide range of locally produced food and beverages that will satisfy the taste senses, and here is an overview of these manufacturers:
Rakfisk from Valdres
Six rakfisk producers are behind Valdres Rakfisk BA: Noraker Gård, Lofoss Fisk, Handes Rakaure, Røn Gard, Trøsvik Fisk and Haadem Fisk.
Valdres have the only rakfisk producers in Norway that have achieved both the Specialty brand and protected geographical designation for the rakfisk. They refine their own fish, but cooperate on common quality criteria such as short transport route, no use of additives and fresh and oxygenated mountain water.
Source: lokalmat.no
Hande Rakfisk
Hande Rakfisk is a family business in Vestre Slidre that produces rakfisk and cured meats from Valdres . Rakfisken is marked with the quality stamps «Good Norwegian» and «Rakfisk från Valdres ». Hande Rakfisk has won several awards during the famous Rakfisk Festival in Valdres .
Haadem Fisk
Rakfisk producer Haadem Fisk AS has been producing rakfisk since 1967 and is idyllically located at Fasleelva, on the west side of Leira in Valdres . The company and the area by the river are part of the family farm Haadem. There, the Haadem family has been putting rakfisk up for sale for three generations and is today the largest producer of rakfisk from Valdres .
Lofoss Fisk
Lofoss Fisk is a rakfisk producer located in Ryfoss, in the far north of Vestre Slidre municipality. Here rakfisk is sold in three maturation levels – from mild to well-stored. Processed and vacuum-packed filleted and whole quality rake fish, with delicate color and correct consistency according to traditional recipes. Lofoss Fisk has claimed in the past few years and has received many awards for its rakfisk over the years.
Noraker Farm
In Aurdal in Valdres noraker gård which is currently operated in the 14th generation. The family farm has a rich cultural history and long traditions in laying rakfisk. Rakfisken from Noraker Gård is a coveted delicacy that has won the first prize in the Norwegian Rakfisk Festival's annual competition, and a total of 14 times won the folk jury prize.
Stende Rakfisk
Stende Rakfisk fishes the fish in Steinbusjøen and Øyangen in Vang in Valdres , located 1200 meters above sea level. With at least 50 years of experience, the Stende family has created a long tradition of making rakfisk from mountain trout. The company offers a firm and nice, medium rakfisk that is approved by the Food Safety Authority. (ivaldres.no)
Trøsvik Fisk
The family business Trøsvik Gård is located in Lomen in Vestre Slidre municipality and is known for its tasty rakfisk. The farm has long traditions of rakfisk and the closure of trout that were fished in nearby mountain lakes and Slidrefjorden. The company has been producing rakfisk since 1973.(ivaldres.no)
Wangensten AS
Wangensten AS is a family business that has been producing and selling rakfisk for generations. The production facility is located in the former premises of Nord-Aurdal dairy at Leira in Valdres . About 150 tonnes of rakfisk are produced here annually for the Norwegian market, making Wangensten the largest rakfisk producer in the country.
Basket from Valdres
Valdres can also adorn itself with a strong brand name in the production and sale of cured sausage which has been dealt a protected geographical origin labelling, and the classification "Kurv from Valdres » has become a stamp of quality on cured sausage made from small cattle or wild meat. The recipes on the "Kurv" date back to the 1910s, and Valdres today has several producers of this type of traditional cured sausage.
List of producers of cured sausage:
- Bagn Sausage Maker
- Moahaugen Gard
- Strandmo - Wikipedia
- Sørre Skjel
- Anne and Arne Belsheim
- Pour Meat
- Skakadalskurv - Wikipedia
Valdres also offers a diversity of other types of food producers who in recent times have cemented their place in the market for Norwegian-produced food, and several of these producers are ranked highly in their respective fields.
- Mountain pig from Valdres
- Tyinlam - Wikipedia
- Pour meat
- Olestølen Mikroysteri
- Valdres Bakst AS
- Små Vesen AS(BEER)
- Download the executives list
- Per Reboli AS
- Stølsvidda AS
