OREANDA-NEWS. Anyone who came to the Festival tried a first one, a second one and came back the next day to try yet another recipe. The 15th Farofa Festival in Sao Joaquim de Bicas was three days of pure animation, live music and the traditional dish, known as Farofa, of the Nossa Senhora da Paz neighborhood. The event was an outdoor contest with the best farofas prepared by local families competing. For the second year in a row, MMX, the EBX Group mining company, was one of the sponsors of the Festival. The idea of the Festival was to reinforce its commitment to communities in the region of Serra Azul, where the company operates, and contribute to the strengthening of the cultural traditions of the region through the Raizes Program.

Throughout the event, MMX exhibited photos and videos produced in 2012 by the Program. It was an opportunity for the residents to see recorded stories, cultural traditions and moments from their local events. At the same time the company also distributed booklets with recipes for the farofa dishes that competed in the Farofa Festival last year.

The tasty dishes were sold in more than ten tents. Educator Rosilene Aparecida Maia said that, even though it’s hard work, it is very rewarding and profitable. "I have attended about eight of these events. Each year I make a different dish. The festival attracts many people from the surrounding towns", said Rosilene, as she served her customers.

The men also had their tents. Farmer Elias Carvalho and mechanic Fabio Junior Bessa were busy in their tent as well. "We decided to take part because it's a tradition in our community. Besides the farofa, on Sunday we sell barbecued meat on a spit, broth, beans, and bacon and liver with jilo, a typical vegetable. People like it a lot", he said. Administrative Director Maritsamara Teixeira doesn’t remember how many of these festivals she has been to. "I come every year. I like them a lot. The farofas are wonderful. You try one and then you have to try them all, because there are lots of different types. They give you non-traditional recipes. It’s great" she says,as she andher family tucked into a shredded chicken farofa with raisins, corn and bacon.

The event took place from the 10th to the 12th of May and brought together the region's residents and also visitors from different places. The Farofa Festival first took place in 1997, the brainchild of a resident in the neighborhood at the time, Zelia Maria Ribeiro. The event is organized by the Town Hall of Sao Joaquim de Bicas.

Roots Program

Since 2011, MMX has been developing the Raizes Program in towns close to the Serra Azul Unit. The program identifies projects for culture, education, environment and income generation in the municipalities which can be developed and which suit the different communities. In Sao Joaquim de Bicas, the activities of the Raizes Project are directed mainly to keeping alive the history of the town, and to developing tourism and leisure.