Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen, T.D., has urged Farmers’ Markets throughout the Mid West region to submit applications for the Code of Good Practice for Farmers Markets.
34 markets were awarded the good practice banner in 2009, including Nenagh Farmers' Market in Tipperary, Ballyvaughan, Kilrush and Ennis Farmers' Markets in Clare, and Abbeyfeale Market and Limerick Milk Market in Limerick.
Minister of State Killeen said: “One of the Government's commitments under the Programme for Government is to encourage more direct selling between farmers and consumers by restoring and promoting farm shops and a national network of farmers' markets and country markets”.
He added: “The awarding of this Good Practice Standard will give consumers more confidence in what local food markets stand for and provide Mid West food producers with a good route to market and opportunity to deal directly with local consumers. It is also a very good promotional tool for the market itself. Bord Bia will denote all Farmers' Markets on its website and Good Food Ireland has also expressed interest in including the good practice markets in its guides”.
“Markets operating to this standard receive a certificate and banner which they can display to inform the public, that they are undertaking to hold markets regularly; to source a substantial proportion, ideally 50%, of local produce from the county or neighbouring counties; to accommodate seasonal and local garden/allotment produce and to comply with food safety/labelling rules and criteria on good governance”, concluded Minister of State Killeen.
Applications should be made to Bord Bia, Clanwilliam Court Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2 on or before 31 March 2010. Further information is available at www.bordbia.ie or www.agriculture.gov.ie.
