Things to do this November, starting tomorrow!
A conference themed around local food. This event, organised by the Department of Agriculture and Bord Bia, begins at the very specific time of 5.30pm, and is being held in the Mullingar Park Hotel, Dublin Rd, Mullingar on Tuesday November 13th (go here to register).
Speakers: That man Trevor Sargent will be there again, this time opening the event and also launching a guide to box schemes, farmers� markets and farm shops. Bord Bia will do a presentation on local food, as will Tim Schlitzer of the FoodRoutes network in the US. FoodRoutes is a nonprofit organization that aids the development of local food distributional systems. It provides a range of resources, including communication tools, technical support, networking and information.
Both the local producer and the multiple retailers� perspectives will also feature. Mary Kelly of Moonshine organic dairy farm will speak about her business, which is apt as her family business is based just outside Mullingar. The Kelly�s turned a struggling conventional diary farm in Westmeath into a thriving organic food business, which now employs each of their six siblings. They produce organic diary products from their herd, which comprises of Ayrshire, Fresian and crosses of these. Their products include award winning soft cheeses, yoghurts and smoothies. Watch out for the distinctive churn style glass bottles their yoghurts and smoothies come in. I wrote about theme a while back. I'll post what I wrote here soon.
Sharon Buckley of Musgraves, Centra and SuperValu will outline local food from a multiple retailer�s perspective. There will be a choice of panel discussions featuring the above listed participants and other experts.
IOFGA�s AGM is also on soon. This is taking place on the November the 18th at Mellows College, Athenry, Co
Galway. (for more, phone IOFGA on 043-42495 or email grace.maher@iofga.org). First things first, check out their new site!
Because they were established in 1982, all of 25 years ago, the IOFGA theme is �looking forward to the next 25�
The morning seminar is open to the public. IOFGA have gathered together a range of speakers from across the food system. These include Minister of State Trevor Sargent, under whose remit organic farming and food comes. The minister has been a solid supporter of organic farming, so it will be worth seeing what he reveals about future government plans for the sector, now that he actually has the power to affect change.
Dr. Charles Merfield of Teagasc will discuss soil fertility in the organic system. Charles is developing quite a name for himself as a conference speaker, as he combines those two key traits � genuine enthusiasm and comprehensive knowledge. If you get him going on the high tech machinery end of things there will be no stopping him.
Peter Melchett, director of the Soil Assocation will discuss GM and also
give the UK perspective on organic farming. With the UK being such an important market for Irish organic produce, and with the GM threat to organics ever present, this too should prove interesting.
Michael Hickey will also take to the podium. Michael, an organic beef farmer from Tipperary, was one of the first native born Irish members of IOFGA, joining the fledgling organisation in the mid 1980s. Michael is both impassioned in his support for organics and holistic in his thinking about how food and society should be. All things considered, another perspective well worth hearing.
Their last morning speaker will be the food writer John McKenna, who will speak about the role of organic food in the future in Ireland. John is well known for both the well written and informative Bridgestone guides, and his uncompromising comments on what he sees as the problems with food and hospitality in Ireland.
All in all, this is a well rounded set of speakers who will surely offer up that most apt of culinary clich�s; food for thought.
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