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MINISTER COVENEY ANNOUNCES ‘FARMERS’ MARKET GOOD PRACTICE STANDARD’ AWARDS FOR 2012

43 Markets in 17 Counties participating in the Standard

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD this week announced the awarding to three markets of the Farmers’ Markets Good Practice Standard 2012-2013:

· Douglas Farmers Market, Cork

· Athboy Stables Farmers’ Market, Co. Meath and

· Sage & Stone Farmers’ Marlet, Duleek, Co. Meath

The Minister also announced the renewal to end 2013 of the Good Practice Standard held by three markets:

· Mahon Point , Cork,

· Carlow Farmers Market and

· Monaghan Farmers Market

Complimenting the 43 Markets in 17 Counties who hold the Standard, the Minister said that “Farmers' Markets connect producers and consumers, including tourists, in a short supply chain, providing access to a range of locally produced artisan and craft foods with all the benefits this implies for promoting the local economy and celebrating its food traditions. Farmers are experts in producing a high quality product but may not have the resources, time or skills to develop and market an on-farm enterprise. In this respect selling in a farmers market can provide a relatively low cost way of assessing the market for a product and developing some skill in the marketing arena”.

Minister Coveney recalled that Farmers’ Markets displaying the Good Practice Standard undertake to hold markets regularly, to stock a substantial proportion, ideally 50%, of local produce from the county or neighbouring counties and to accommodate seasonal and local garden/allotment produce. Details of where and when farmers’ markets and country markets are held are listed on the Bord Bia website http://www.bordbia.ie/aboutfood/farmersmarkets

Note for the editor

- The Good Practice Standard was launched at BLOOM 2009. It is a voluntary standard and all farmers’ markets operating in the State are eligible to apply. A non-refundable application fee of €50 per market applies.

- The Good Practice Standard sets minimum eligibility criteria. Market management may apply stricter criteria.

- A certificate and banner is awarded to markets who demonstrate compliance with the criteria. The banner is displayed at the market location.

- A list by county is attached of the 37 markets in addition to the six mentioned in the Press Release which hold the Good Practice Standard.

Clare Ballyvaughan Farmers’ Market

Clare Ennis Farmers’ Market

Clare Ennistymon Farmers’ Market

Clare Killaloe Farmers’ Market

Clare Kilrush Farmers’ Market

Cork Ballincollig Farmers’ Market

Cork Blarney Farmers’ Market

Cork Clonakilty Market

Cork IRD Duhallow Farmers’ Market, Kanturk

Cork Kinsale Farmers’ Market

Cork Midleton Farmers’ Market

Cork Schull Country Market

Dublin Balbriggan Fish and Farmers’ Market

Dublin Coppinger Row Market

Dublin Dun Laoghaire Organic Market

Dublin Honest2Goodness Indoor Farmers’ Market, Glasnevin

Dublin Malahide Village Market

Dublin Marley Park CoCo Market

Dublin Peoples Park CoCo Market

Dublin Red Stables Market Clontarf

Galway Roundstone Country Market

Galway Moycullen Country Market

Kerry Listowel Farmers’ Market

Kerry Milltown Farmers’ Market

Kildare Naas Farmers’ Market

Leitrim Manorhamilton Farmers’ Market (Bee Park)

Leitrim The Market Yard Centre, Carrick-on-Shannon

Limerick Abbeyfeale Farmers’ Market

Limerick Limerick Milk Market

Longford Longford Farmers’ Market

Louth West St. Farmers’ Market, Drogheda

Meath Navan Town Centre Market

Roscommon Boyle Farmers’ Market

Tipperary Nenagh Farmers’ Market

Waterford Dungarvan Farmers’ Market

Waterford Lismore Farmers’ Market

Wexford Gorey Farmers’ Market