Ireland: 70 Ways to Celebrate National Organic Week

Ireland celebrated National Organic Week from 13 to 19 September 2010. On this occasion, Mr. Ciarán Cuffe TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, presented the Overall National Organic Award 2010 to Mossfield Organic Farm for their farmhouse Gouda-style cheese. The awards are recognised as an important feature in the organic food and drink calender, which attracted over 170 entries from organic companies all over Ireland.

Mr. Ciarán Cuffe TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, presented the Overall National Organic Award 2010 on 14 September to Mossfield Organic Farm, for its distinctive organic farmhouse Gouda-style cheese (picture); the only type of its kind produced in Ireland. The judges were unanimously overwhelmed by the variety of different flavours available and the taste and quality of the cheese. This distinctive cheese is produced using organic milk from its 300 acre farm situated just outside Birr, Co. Offaly, at the backdrop of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Mossfield displayed excellent farming practices, a strong focus on sustainability and biodiversity as well as consumer friendly packaging for retail.

Now in their fourth year, the National Organic Awards aim to recognise the achievements, and raise the profile, of Irish organic food and drink manufacturers. Organised by Bord Bia in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the 2010 Awards attracted over 170 entries from organic companies nationwide. Speaking at the event, Minister of State Ciarán Cuffe (see picture below, the minister to the left) said: “To succeed under current market conditions, Irish organic produce must offer both value for money and high discernable quality that customers will recognise. More opportunities for Irish organic produce will emerge when the new National Green Public Procurement Plan comes into operation towards the end of the year. The standard of product here today bodes well for the future in terms of taking up these new opportunities and I congratulate Mossfield on their great success today. “

Accepting the award, Ralph Haslam, owner of Mossfield Organic Farm said, “We are delighted to receive this award, particularly because our Gouda-style cheese is the only Irish organic Gouda cheese on the market. At Mossfield, we aim to achieve the high standard our customers expect. We are grateful to the judging panel for recognising our efforts and to Bord Bia and Minister Cuffe for their work to promote organic food in this country.”

The independent judging panel chaired by Hugo Arnold, journalist and Food Consultant, included Miah Buckley, Trading Manager Dairy, Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland; Evan Doyle, proprietor Brooklodge Wells and Spa; Darren Grant, Proprietor, The Organic Supermarket Blackrock, Co Dublin and Oliver Moore, journalist, researcher and organic blogger. Speaking about the winner, Hugo Arnold said, “If you are a farmer with any doubts at all about conventional farming then take a trip down to Mossfield Farm. Ralph Haslam switched from conventional farming in 1999 and for the last 11 years has worked with single-minded determination to create a business that respects the land he farms. He has managed to produce a cheese that wins awards again and again - this is a testament to his vision. He is focused on his milk and what he can do with that: cheese today, ice-cream tomorrow. Watch this space.” (Picture: the minister at National Organic Week)
 

The awards were handed out on the second day of National Organic Week, which ran from 13 to 19 September 2010. Speaking about National Organic Week, Teresa Brophy, manager Ireland Market, Bord Bia, said, “There are over 70 free events taking place nationwide. Producers, retailers and farmers markets nationwide host an array of events including organic farm walks, cookery demonstrations, organic BBQs, harvest feasts and picnics, complimentary in store sampling and tastings, allotment tours and talks and organic farming seminars. ” Event highlights during National Organic Week 2010 included Darina Allen’s cookery talk promoting good value organic meat cuts in the Nano Nagle Centre, Ballygriffin, Co. Cork; Peter and Jenny Young, Castlefarm Shop, Athy, Co. Kildare hosting a farm walk and vegetable harvesting day; while Peter Ward from Country Choice, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary organised the annual Blas an Fhomhair organic lunch. Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority in Ireland, held its National Organic Conference entitled "Challenges and Opportunities for Organic Producers" in Birr, Co. Offaly on 16 September. 
 

The organic grocery market in Ireland is worth 90 million euros (July 2010). The value of the market decreased by 17.4 % YoY. However, the volume decrease experienced was only 7.5 %. Slowing demand for organic foods would appear to be a direct result of reduced household expenditure brought on by the recession, according to Bord Bia. Organic yoghurt continues to gain share (24 % volume growth) with savoury carbs & snacks also performing well with 31 % YoY. The most popular product categories continue to be vegetables, fruit, dairy products and meat.  
 

The individual category award winners were as follows: Best Organic Retail Product: St. Tola Organic Goat Cheese, St. Tola Original Inagh Farmhouse Cheese Ltd., Inagh, Co. Clare Best Organic Local Product: Beechlawn Organic Farm for the seasonal organic vegetable box (picture) Best Organic New Product: Ballybrado Ltd, Ballybrado Organic Junior Muesli Ballybrado House, Cahir, Co. Tipperary Best Organic Sustainable Product: Mossfield Organic Farm, Mossfield Organic Mature Cheese, Clareen, Birr, Co. Offaly Best Organic Export Product: Murphy’s Irish Seafood (Fastnet Mussels), Murphy’s whole fresh Irish organic salmon Best Overall Organic Product: Mossfield Organic Farm, Mossfield Organic Mature Cheese, Clareen, Birr, Co. Offaly