Organic Region 2025

Organic Food in Võru County Schools and Kindergartens – From an Idea to an EU Organic Region

The story of organic food in Võru County is a perfect example of how a single idea can grow into a systematic and far-reaching change in the food culture of all educational institutions in a region. 

It all began in 2018 at the county’s first “Vunki mano! (or “Go for it! in the Võro dialect) hackathon, where the idea of creating a county-wide organic school food network won the grand prize and the title of Best Health-Promoting Solution. Once the question “How can we bring more organic ingredients to the tables of schools and kindergartens?” was posed, practical ways to implement the idea were quickly sought. 

To ensure that the winning idea did not remain just a dream, projects were launched under the leadership of the Setomaa Union, taking representatives from the Development Centre of Võru County, the Setomaa Union, and the municipalities on study trips to Denmark and Sweden. The experience abroad confirmed that introducing organic food into schools and kindergartens is entirely feasible and brings both educational and health benefits. 

The trips also reinforced the understanding that change must start in the school cafeterias—this is where organic ingredients reach the children’s plates. Efforts then focused on raising the skills and awareness of school chefs, including visits to organic kitchens in Tartu and Tallinn, roundtable discussions, and training sessions that created a platform for conversations ranging from procurement issues to the involvement of local producers. At the same time, it became increasingly clear that wider adoption of organic food is only possible if local governments are committed to supporting this direction. 

Võru County’s Organic Agreement

Fueled by this shared commitment, on 18 September 2020, the Development Centre of Võru County, the Setomaa Union, and five local municipalities signed the Võru County´s Organic Agreement. Its goal was to increase the proportion of organic and local food in educational catering, with a concrete target: by the end of 2024, at least 20% of ingredients used in schools and kindergartens should be organic. 

Achieving the organic catering eco-label level

Training for school chefs and caterers continued, new recipes were tested, cooperation with local producers and supply chains was strengthened, and awareness among the community and parents was raised. Regular monitoring and feedback were also ensured for educational institutions. 

Five years later, the target has been achieved. As of 1 December 2024, 42 out of 43 educational institutions in Võru County had reached the organic catering label level, confirming that organic ingredients now make up 20–50% of their food. This result demonstrates that consistent effort and collaboration lead to success. 

Next steps on Võru County’s Organic Journey

But the achievements in organic food did not stop there. As the share of organic catering increased, the availability and quality of local produce became increasingly important. Consequently, on 1 January 2024, the South Estonian Garden Produce Processing Centre project was launched. By 2026, a modern processing facility will be completed at the Obinitsa industrial area in Setomaa. The facility will provide local producers with opportunities to preserve, process, and market their products, supporting the supply of fresh organic ingredients to schools and kindergartens while reducing food waste. 

Additionally, a new county-wide organic agreement is being prepared to ensure the sustainability of past achievements and to pay more attention to supporting organic vegetable growers and improving the availability of their products. What does this mean? Cooperation between local producers, municipalities, and other partners must continue in an even more systematic way. 

An idea voiced seven years ago has now firmly placed organic food on the plates of children in Võru County´s schools and kindergartens. Determined action and collective effort have borne fruit, resulting in the title “Best Organic Region 2025”!

About the EU Organic Awards