Free Innovation Workshop

Bord Bia will be hosting a free Innovation Workshop on Thursday 8th December in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, Naas Road, Dublin.

The workshop is geared towards small to medium food enterprises and budding food entrepreneurs. It runs from 9am-4.30pm

Westport Country Market 02 and 03/12/2011

http://www.tv3.ie/ireland_am.php

Watch Westport Country Market, which was featured on Friday's Ireland AM TV programme.

Today (Saturday) the branch  featured in an interview on a Today FM radio show with Phil Cawley.

Any opportunity we get to showcase our markets is great, so always include the national web address . This ensures that all branches benefit from the publicity, and lets people know we are a national cooperative. Cooperatives are again been looked at as a way forward, and with 2012 being the Year of the Cooperative, we should let it be known that we've been one  for the last  65 years!

Proposal for Funding 30/11/2011

Today we submitted our funding proposal to Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture. We have been receiving a small annual grant from the Department of Agriculture, which has in the past, gone towards PR training, and computer training for members. If we are successful in getting this funding, we will use it for marketing, promotion and development.

Media Update 30/11/2011

Country Markets will feature in the December/January issue of Easy Food magazine.

This will be the third consecutive issue we have been in, and it has been a great boost to members.

We have also been in contact with ‘Smallholder’, the national UK monthly magazine. There is a substantial readership for the magazine here, which caters for the small farmer, allotment holder and gardener. The editor, has agreed to feature Country Markets, and we will submit an article in the Spring. They are currently working on the February issue.

Stradbally branch, and the group who did us proud at Electric Picnic in September  

will also be featured in Country Living Magazine (magazine with Farmers Journal) nearer Christmas. They took one of the five Bridgestone awards given out at the festival this year. The Best On Your Doorstep Award was awarded for best use of local produce.

 

The Bakers Den, a facebook page set up by one of our members, sharing recipies, tips and ideas.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/249482845096887/ 

This contemplative blog was also set up by one of our members.
http://lorely-writingfromtheedge.blogspot.com/

Dublin’s Lord Mayor visits Raheny Branch 22/11/2011

Dublin’s Lord Mayor Andrew Montague visited Raheny Country Market on Friday. It was a great occasion, lots of people turned out to meet him. In his speech the Lord Mayor talked about his interest in markets, and the re-development of the Victorian Fruit and Vegetable Market in Dublin. The Queen was brought to The English Market when she visited Cork earlier this year and he feels Dublin should have its equal. The plan is to refurbish the market which is occupied by a small number of wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower sellers, and to provide 40,000sq ft for food retailers.

Country Markets are seeking to establish more markets in and around Dublin. I will be meeting the Lord Mayor in the new year.

Some Raheny Craft

Christmas Decorations

The Good Food Ireland Conference and Awards 25/11/2011

Good Food Ireland is a network of people who are committed to high ethical standards and local Irish food. They form a network of producers that make, sell, and serve good food and quality accommodation. Their Guide and Touring map includes over 150 independently run B+B’s, cafes, restaurants, and pubs. A number of preferred business partners work closely with Good Food Ireland include The Irish Times, Newstalk 106, Hugo Arnold (food journalist), The School of Restaurant and Kitchen Management, and Barry Packaging.

Margaret Jeffares, founder of Good Food Ireland invited me to attend their conference, as she expressed an interest in Country Markets Ltd coming under their brand.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD officially opened the conference. He spoke of the need to promote high quality food both domestically and internationally. Irish people traveling within Ireland are also tourists,many wanting to taste regional foods take part in Food Trails or workshops.

I spoke to Helen Gee, a former member of Country Markets. Helen now runs G’s Gourmet Jams which are made on the family farm in Abbeyleix, Co Laois, where the bulk of fruit is grown. She is delighted that sales for their jam have risen 4% this year, attributing this to people returning to homemade produce and homemade taste.

There were 10-12 producer members there who provided a wonderful lunch for us. Trout pate, oak-smoked salmon, yogurts, cheeses, black pudding, sausages, breads, potato bread, oatcakes,relishes,smoked chicken, spiced beef, terrines.....beautiful food by people wanting to promote their best.

Mairead Lavery, Editor of Country Living magazine chaired the conference. I spoke to her about the growing interest in Country Markets and our value in the community. Mairead would like to do an article on us in her magazine in 2012.

At the Awards ceremony later that evening, Taoiseach Enda Kenny made the presentations to the winners. The atmosphere was one of excitement , anticipation, and a genuine warmth between the members who were supportive of each other.

I will be talking later to Margaret Jeffares to establish what the criteria for becoming a member are.

Helen Gee

Mairead Lavery

Bank of Ireland Enterprise week 18-25/11/2011

http://www.allaboutbusiness.ie/

Some of our branches were involved in this earlier in the year and it is running again. Why not showcase your market at your local branch of Bank of Ireland?