The Ston Saltworks awaits the feast of Saint Liberan and the beginning of the harvest. Until then, hundreds of tourists from around the world don't miss the opportunity to visit the oldest European saltworks.
The Ston Saltworks was also visited by the Chinese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Han Changfu, accompanied by the Croatian Minister of Agriculture, Tomislav Tolušić.
The old saltworks captured prestigious guests at first glance, as reported by HRT.
- This is cultural and historical heritage. We have said that we cannot export salt until we organize it, but once we do, we will have a special price and a premium product. Our salt will be able to be treated as healthy salt, eco-friendly salt, and medicinal salt," says Sveto Pejić, owner of the Ston saltworks.
Ston salt, considered the most flavourful and healthiest, can be purchased in just a few stores in Ston and Dubrovnik. It is not exported because out of one thousand tons harvested annually in the Ston saltworks, only about 5 percent is for consumption. To increase that percentage, it is necessary to pave the crystallization pools with stone, which requires a significant amount of money.
The base of most crystallization pools is currently made of asphalt, laid nearly 100 years ago. However, time has taken its toll: during the harvest, the base wears out, resulting in the majority of the salt being industrial. Millions are already prepared for the solution to this issue, yet first and foremost, the challenges with paperwork need to be addressed.
"We took the stone from the Lazar pool, from which, as recorded in the Dubrovnik archives, all the salt was sent to the Viennese court. It was the purest, whitest, and it could fetch the highest price. Today, when we look at the Lazar pool, it appears as if it was paved just a few years ago, with no damage whatsoever. We sent the stone for analysis and it was determined to be our local stone. We came to the conclusion - if the crystallization pools are paved with this stone, the saltworks will remain an eternal monument, and we will achieve something new," reveals Pejić.
Alongside the saltworks, a visit to the Mali Ston Bay is incomplete without exploring the world of shellfish. The pristine sea and delicious oysters are truly captivating. However, the oysters will remain on local tables for the time being. Production is even declining due to the struggle that shellfish farmers are facing with a predator - the sea bream, which is slowly devastating the oyster and mussel beds.
Shellfish, wine, and salt will continue to be the trademark of the southern part of Croatia, but it appears that it will take some more time before they conquer foreign markets.
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