Wednesday 9th September 2009 National Organic Week, co-ordinated by Bord Bia and funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, takes place from the 14th – 20th September. Now in its fifth year, the event aims to continue to raise consumer awareness of organic food, how to recognise it when shopping and where to buy it.
“To celebrate National Organic Week producers, retailers and farmers markets nationwide will host over 50 events including cookery demonstrations; workshops; BBQs; farm walks and in store tastings” commented Teresa Brophy. “It is an ideal opportunity for organic producers and processors to organise events at a national and local level to increase consumer awareness of locally produced organic food.”
According to new research, the volume of Irish organic food sales has increased year on year by 13.2 percent, reaching a value of €124 million in the year to July 2009, compared to €104 million in the year to July 2008. The research also revealed 73 percent of Irish grocery shoppers purchased an organic product in the last month, compared to 20 percent in 2003 and 45 percent in 2008. Fruit, vegetables and dairy products account for the most popular purchased categories. (Source: TNS July 2009)
Bord Bia research has shown it is the perceived health benefits of organic food, conferred through its ‘free from’ status, that are most important to Irish consumers. Seventy three percent of those surveyed stated “not having added chemicals or pesticides” as the main benefit of buying organic food.” (Source: Bord Bia, August 2008)
Event highlights during National Organic Week include Darina Allen’s Organic Farm Walks, Ballymaloe, Shanagarry, Co. Cork on Monday 14th; Clodagh McKenna’s cookery demonstration at the Nano Nagle Centre, Co, Cork on Wednesday 16th; Women in Organic Horticultural Training (WOHT) training courses and seminars at the Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co. Leitrim on the 16th and the Organic Centre’s Annual Harvest Celebration on Thursday 17th. Jenny and Peter Young, Castlefarm Shop, Athy, Co. Kildare, will host an organic farm walk on Saturday 19th including vegetable harvesting and cookery demonstrations, whilst Peter Ward from Country Choice, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary is organising the annual Blas an Fhomhair organic lunch, also on the 19th. (Full list of events on the Bord Bia website)
On Monday 14th September Bord Bia will announce the winners of the National Organic Awards 2009. Now in their third year the Awards are recognised as an important feature in the organic food and drink industry calendar, which aim to recognise the achievements, and raise the profile, of Irish organic food and drink manufacturers. The Awards were established as part of the National Organic Plan under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food and Bord Bia and last year attracted over 100 entries from organic companies nationwide. The categories for this year’s awards are: Best Organic Retail Product; Best Organic Local Product; Best Organic Export Product; Best Organic New Product; Best Sustainable Organic Product and Best Overall Organic Product.
For further information, recipes and a full listing of National Organic Week events visit www.bordbia.ie