Beltra Country Market

Beltra Country Market is featured in the November issue of Easy Food magazine. This is Ireland’s number one food magazine, and statistics show the readers are people we would like to know, those with young families. The article is about 250-300 words, has some nice photos and is well worth studying to see how to get that all important information included, without it sounding like a sales pitch!

Limerick Regional Food Event 03/10/2011

On 03/10/2011 two of our members attended a regional food event in Thomond Park, Limerick. The event which was free, was a joint agency initiative led by Bord Bia and Atlantic Way. Failte Ireland, LEADER groups, County Enterprise boards and Teagasc were also involved.

The objective was to stimulate awareness and generate demand for local food. Food producers from Clare, Galway and Limerick showcased their produce to local retailers and foodservice buyers in what is known as a B2B, or business to business venture.

Minister Simon Coveney addressed the audience and made reference to Country Markets. I had asked him at a previous event to mention us when he spoke of the agri food and artisan sector and the contribution we are making.

Even though we did not take part in the display it proved a very rewarding experience. Josephine from Portumna market and Betty from Nenagh market spent the evening networking. They spoke with representatives of Bord Bia, Teagasc and Failte Ireland, it was also interesting that the producers present knew about us.

They also spoke with Simon Coveney and had a photograph taken. This is a good way to put a face on the organisation, get out there and be visible to the agencies and various bodies.

Thank you Josephine and Betty.

Suggested Reading

 In June Annette O Leary of Achill Country Market published a booklet on edible seaweeds. ‘Achill’s Hidden Garden,- Edible Seaweeds’ is an introduction to the seashore, including identification, harvesting and storing of sea vegetables.

Annette lives in the house where she was born and reared in Pollagh, Keel on Achill Island. Growing up the children of the area used the seashore as their playground, and Annette learned all she knows about seaweeds from her grandparents, parents and aunts.

She harvests enough for her family and Achill Country Market. This was a poor year for harvesting Duileasc, it needs to be picked and dried in one day. Commercial supplies of Duileasc are much saltier as no natural sun in used in the drying process.

The booklet is available through local shops in Achill, (Euro 5) or direct from Annette.
Annette O Leary
Pollagh,
Keel,
Achill Island,
Co Mayo.
098-43136

Annette recommends Quality Sea Veg in Burtonport for those wishing to buy ready mixed sea spice or sea veg and Dr Prannie Rhattigans recipe book The Irish Seaweed Kitchen.

Area Meeting Cahir 26/09/2011

Our final area meeting took place in Cahir House Hotel and eleven markets were represented, Bandon, Carraigaline, Cahir, Dungarvan, Fethard, Mountrath, Nenagh, Portlaoise, Portumna, Tulla and Stradbally.

Nominations were sought for a Regional Representative to support some of our colleagues in Kerry and West Cork. It is important that every member is aware of being part of a National organisation rather than an isolated market and that we can all work together to achieve future goals.

Members were in agreement that we should have a presence at the National Ploughing Championships, Bloom, Dublin Horse Show and Electric Picnic.

On the way home I called to see Peter Ward at his delicatessen and coffee bar Country Choice in Nenagh. Peter has been a long time friend of Country Markets supporting us for many years and has been a guest speaker at a number of our meetings.
Country Choice has a reputation for sourcing, cooking , and selling great food. The shop has a network of committed local suppliers for seasonal fruit and veg, country butter, eggs and poultry.

As a member of Tipperary Slow Food Peter sought the help of our friends in Nenagh Country Markets to supply the desserts for Blas an Fhomhair, a not for profit community harvest lunch held in the town annually.
www.countrychoice.ie

Interesting Historical Photo

I came across this photo at http://fethard.com/news_archive_2011/cnews.110509.html

Pictured at one of the first Country Market stalls in Fethard are L to R: Olivia Hughes, Phyllis O'Connell, Dolly O'Keeffe and Peggy Tierney (later Mrs Moore).

Raheny Country Market Celebrations 16/09/2011

I was delighted to take part in the 20th birthday of Raheny Country Market on Friday.
When I arrived many of their loyal customers were enjoying a cup of tea and birthday cake on the house.

The market is held in The Johnston Hall every Friday morning from 10.30am - 12 noon, and there is a good selection of produce including some very nice jewellery and craft. Their gluten free baking on the first Friday of each month is very popular and customers travel quite a distance to buy.

Senator Averil Power chats to customers

Opening of Cashel Blue’s New Dairy 15/09/2011

I was invited to the official opening of Cashel Blue’s new cheese dairy at their farm in Fethard, Co Tipperary. The invitation was extended as Country Markets in Fethard provided the first outlet for their cheese in the early 1980’s. It was wonderful to see how the family developed their on-farm enterprise over the years and are now exporting Cashel Blue as far as Beijing and Milan.

I was one of five guest speakers, others included John McKenna (who gave us a Bridgestone Award at Electric Picnic), Eimear O Donnell of Bord Bia, Sergio Furno Director of Cashel Blue and Patricia Gouldsbury of Carlow Brewing.

The official opening was performed by Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Simon Coveney. I spoke to him and asked that he include Country Markets when speaking about the artisan sector in Ireland and acknowledges the contribution we are making to the sector.

I made contact with Bord Bia and will be writing a letter to the CEO Aidan Cotter seeking sponsorship to host a number of events next year celebrating International Year of the Cooperative.