Press Release

Final preparations for Guildhall Country Food Fair

Thursday, 28 October 2004

As the City braces itself for the Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival, the final arrangements are being put in place for the Guildhall Country Food Fair which is taking place at Guildhall Square this Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm, and will feature 26 stalls displaying a mouth-watering array of fresh produce.

Among the range of produce on sale on the day will be organic meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, traditional breads, exotic oysters, mussels, olives, venison and cheese.

The aim of the Fair is to provide an opportunity for local organic and speciality food producers to promote the sale and raise awareness of quality local produce. The event is hosted by the Rural Area Partnership in Derry (RAPID), Derry City Council, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and supported by the North West Organic Co-operative. The event is funded through the Leader programme.

Chairperson of the City Marketing Committee, Councillor Helen Quigley urged members of the public to come along on Saturday and lend their support to the stall holders.

“I fully support the efforts that are being made to promote local produce and believe Saturday’s event will be another tremendous success. I am confident that the Guildhall Country Food Fair will be an important part of the Council’s Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival and I am very much looking forward to sampling the fantastic selection of fresh produce stalls on display.”

David Hawthorne, the chairman of the North West Organic Co-operative, said he was delighted with the success of the first food fair in August and was confident Saturday’s event would be a bit hit with lovers of good food across the North West.

An organic farmer himself, David and his wife Karen produce organic oats, beef and lamb from Brackfield Organic Farm, the family farm since 1926. The Co-operative has almost 40 shareholders and associate producers from all over Ireland, that sell approximately 1,000 organic cattle and 3000 organic lambs .

He explained: “The Co-operative is not just a marketing group, but is also a broad lobby group representing organic farmers in many occasions from our opposition to Genetically Modified Crops to supporting the principle of fair trade and co-operation for all farmers, not just those in the developing countries. We are currently bidding for Interreg funds to support a regional project to encourage many more local organic products and producers.

“I am delighted that the idea of an organic speciality food market has been embraced by Derry City Council, RAPID and DARD. Everyone has worked together and pulled out all the stops to financially support and organise this event. The initial market in August was a tremendous success and the feedback we received from the public was phenomenal, we hope that now the trail has been blazed that there will be a regular country food fair in the city.

“We at the Co-operative aim to foster, not just the idea of farmers markets, but of delivering a change in food culture, with a strong commitment to local, speciality and organic foods. We are very appreciative of the support we have received from Council and the various organisations and are confident Saturday’s event will be a great success,” he added.

Plans are at an advanced stage to host a similar Food Fair at Guildhall Square in the weeks prior to Christmas.

Ends

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