A survey of more than 400 people has found that 88% of people believe that locally made Irish food and drink products are better for our health and wellbeing.
A SURVEY of more than 400 people has found that 88% of people believe that locally made Irish food and drink products are better for our health and wellbeing.
The survey carried out by the Local Enterprise Offices in Cork and Kerry to mark the launch of the Cork and Kerry Food Market event in Cork City Hall on November 1st and 2nd also found that 87% of people make special efforts to seek out and buy Irish-made products.
The Food Market will celebrate two separate events this year with an after work celebration on Friday for over 18s which will focus on craft drinks and food pairings with cocktail master classes and master brewer talks from 5pm to 10pm.
The Saturday event will feature more than 70 artisan food and drink producers as well as cookery demonstrations by Kevin Dundon and The Happy Pear, and for the first year ever, interactive demos from six of the region’s top local chefs, as well as children’s entertainment from 10am to 6pm.
Among those exhibiting from West Cork are West Cork Brewing, Beara Distillery, Clonakilty Chocolate, Schull and Crossbones, Black’s Brewery, Kinsale Mead, West Cork Biscuit Company, Jude’s Chocolate, Durrus Cheese, Union Hall Smoked Fish and many more.
Speaking of the event, Joe Burke, of the Local Enterprise Office South Cork said: ‘Last year more than 10,000 people attended the Cork Kerry Food Market to experience and enjoy the fruits of our top artisan food producers, spending over €100,000 on the best of local food. With Brexit on the horizon we should make an extra effort to support Irish producers and also look to source alternative Irish produce as there is no guarantee that the food we normally consume will be available in a post Brexit Ireland.’
Also speaking of the food market event, Carmel Biggane, Food Academy project manager, SuperValu said: ‘SuperValu has always sought out the best local producers to give our customers the highest quality products that Ireland has to offer, many of whom begin their journey with our SuperValu Food Academy programme. Today’s consumers are extremely conscious of the importance of supporting and buying local and constantly seek out local products which is why we are passionate about supporting the Cork Kerry Food Market which in turn supports the creation of new jobs in the region.’
The food market is supported by a partnership including the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) Cork and Kerry, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Kerry County Council, SuperValu and Bord Bia. For more see CorkKerryFoodMarket on Facebook.
