RubyBlue Hits The Shelves Of Sainsburys

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Most vodka is made from grain, but potatoes produce a smoother, creamier flavour that’s naturally gluten free. RubyBlue’s version is a multi-award-winner. Made by Hughes Craft Distillery in Co. Antrim, it has won Silver and Gold medals at the New York World Wine and Spirits and the Global Vodka Masters awards.

Its creators, Stuart and Barbara Hughes wanted to produce a Vodka that matches gin in sophistication and depth of flavour.

RubyBlue is exceptionally smooth, with an appealing nose. Buttery, well-rounded with a heartening earthiness and a long clean finish it’s perfect neat but also makes a great base for cocktails.

“When people taste our Potato Vodka they tell us that it doesn’t have the harshness experienced from other vodka brands and it’s the nicest vodka they’ve tasted. When they try our signature serve with a dash of white lemonade, sprig of fresh thyme, and a slice of green apple, they’re converted” says Barbara Hughes.

Sold internationally in Russia, Vienna, Australia and Finland, RubyBlue Potato Vodka is now available in all 13 Sainsburys stores across Northern Ireland.

The RubyBlue range of award-winning fresh fruit liqueurs in Blackcurrant and Cranberry flavours will also be available to purchase in Sainsburys NI from June 2017. Made by hand from carefully selected berries, fruits and botanicals locking the purity of nature into these unique infusions. They can be enjoyed with crushed ice, over ice-cream or with Prosecco to make delicious bellini cocktails.

For more information on RubyBlue visit Hughes Craft Distillery.

 

 

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Article by Michele Shirlow for Farm Week

It’s hard to know what to make of recent developments surrounding the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The Brexit negotiations appear to have started amicably between the UK and EU teams.

UK attempts, however, to persuade the EU negotiators to agree to consider withdrawal terms alongside a future trade deal appears to have run into a brick wall. Is it to be a hard or soft Brexit? No-one in the UK or EU seems clear on this.

There’s a suggestion that the recent UK election makes a ‘softer’ exit more likely. Certainly there appears to have been an agreement on the structure of the negotiations but much bigger hurdles lie ahead.

Interestingly Philip Hammond, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has recently appointed a full-blooded pro-EU campaigner, Professor Silvana Tenreyo, to the Monetary Policy Committee. Signals from government continue to be confusing. Are we leaving the Single Market and the Customs Union? And what about the Common Travel Area? 

There appears to be a desire to maintain the Common Travel Area to facilitate movement between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Preserving the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process remain priority issues for both the EU and UK. But there’s still a lack of clarity on what sort of border arrangements will develop.

A fierce critic of Brexit, Prof Tenreyo has warned that leaving the EU will have a negative impact on the UK economy. She added that Brexit will see talented workers leading the UK. This is already happening here especially in some meat processing plants. The ongoing uncertainty, political confusion, the future rights of European citizens in the UK and the impact of sterling’s weakness are forcing many EU workers here to leave.

Business here is justifiably demanding greater clarity and stability and is concerned about the length of time likely to be involved in negotiating trade deals with the EU and other international markets. Business planning in both short and long terms is now far from easy because of the dark clouds of uncertainty surrounding Brexit. While exporters are benefiting from lower prices abroad, most businesses are having to address higher input costs. Consumers are being hit by higher inflation from the plummeting pound in their pockets.

I know from talking to our member companies that the uncertainty is also having an adverse impact on investment decisions. Many of the businesses, especially the smaller firms, I have met are already focusing their marketing efforts on Great Britain largely because of its accessibility.

I’ve written before in this column that Great Britain is a market with huge potential for most of our companies. And we are keen to help them to explore and exploit the huge opportunities that are developing there for their products and expertise. It’s an ideal market logistically, one easier in which to deal with customers.

We are actively planning to assist our companies to grow in Britain by participating in major trade exhibitions such as the Speciality Food Show in London and the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham. BBC Good Food will also be returning to the Waterfront Conference Centre in Belfast this November. We’ll also be building on the contacts we’ve developed with major food writers and other influencers in Britain to help in increasing awareness of the quality and outstanding taste of our food and drink in Britain and thereby boost sales there.

Fane Valley Joins Forces With NFU Mutual For Education

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Fane Valley, Northern Ireland’s biggest farming and food co-operative and a Food NI member, has joined forces with NFU Mutual and a farmers’ market in Armagh to back a new agricultural and land use GCSE and BTEC extended certificate course.

They are supporting the course being delivered at a local secondary-level school that will instruct pupils in key agri-food skills. The support enables Markethill High School in county Armagh to build and complete a state-of-the-art polytunnel grow-house.

Fane Valley has extensive farming and food interests as the parent company of Linden Foods in Dungannon, county Tyrone and White’s Oats, Tandragee, county Armagh. Markethill Livestock Sales is a leading market.
The companies believe the investment provides an academic focus that will further enhance the skills and education of the future local farmers and next generation agri-industry workforce. The on-site grow-house will help facilitate the examination of soils and crops composition, plant biology, crop production and biodiversity in a range of local habitats.

James Maxwell, Markethill High School principal says: “The high-quality learning activities and experiences, both in a curricular and extra-curricular capacity, are enriching the opportunities, which our pupils have to develop knowledge and skills in expanding industries such as the agri-food sector.”

Trevor Lockhart, Fane Valley chief executive, says: “Fane Valley is excited to partner with Markethill High School, one of Northern Ireland’s leading secondary schools, to support and promote the education of agriculture for local students. We believe the new polytunnel initiative will significantly benefit learning and encourage a new passion for farming and agri-food. As a local business Fane Valley has a responsibility to help lead and shape the next generation within our sector and what better way to assist than through this interactive partnership with a school, it’s staff and their pupils.”

Hampton Hewitt, Markethill Livestock Sales, continues; “We are delighted to support this innovative project. It is important that young people are given the opportunity to develop interests outside of the classroom which may assist them when deciding on a future career. Agriculture is Northern Ireland’s most important sector, and we hope that young people who formally would not have considered a career in agriculture or horticulture may now pursue it.”

Howard Pillow, NFU Mutual Armagh, added: “NFU Mutual and the local Armagh agency is delighted to be involved with this local agricultural initiative. It is extremely reassuring to see the passion and effort which has been directed towards this educational project from both the school staff and its pupils and of course the local businesses. We all share in the vision and wish the school and the agriculture department, headed up by Mrs. Greer all the best for their future growth.”

Burren Balsamics Adds New Condiments To Range

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Burren Balsamics, the Northern Irish producer of fruit infused culinary vinegars, has launched a new range of White Italian Condiments.

The four–strong range was introduced at two major food events – House and Garden Festival at London’s Olympia and the Fine Food Show in Harrogate.

Participation at both shows is central to a new marketing campaign by the artisan business, which is based at Richhill in county Armagh, to accelerate the growth in sales to Great Britain. It’s the first time that Burren Balsamics, a member of the Guild of Fine Food, has exhibited at the two food events in Britain.

The company, formed and managed by experienced chef Susie Hamilton Stubber, gained a gold award at last year’s Blas na hEireann, Irish National Food Awards.
The four flavours of vinegar in the new range are:

Original White Italian Condiment;

Wild Garlic Infused White Italian Condiment – this is a seasonal product which will be replaced by Beetroot and Cacao Nib off–season;

Tarragon Infused White Italian Condiment; and

Blood Orange and Cardamon Infused White Italian Condiment

Mrs Hamilton Stubber, commenting on the new range, says: “The new products are pale balsamics with delicate and rich flavours. They are also lower in acidity and ideal for a wide range of culinary applications. It’s a light condiment which won’t overpower a dish. I’ve been keen to add a light balsamic to my range of dark vinegars for some time and have been working to develop infusions for the range.

“The two shows, especially the Fine Food Show in Harrogate, offered ideal platforms to launch our new range. Fine Food was perfect because it attracted buyers, chefs and retailers, as well as bars, bakers, butchers, farm shops, food halls, delis, village shops, gift shops, garden centres, cheesemongers, cafés, restaurants and pubs,” Mrs Hamilton Stubber adds.

Burren Balsamics was the only artisan food business from Northern Ireland at Harrogate, a show organised by the UK Guild of Fine Food.

Harrogate Fine Food Show was an exclusive collection of new and established food and drink brands plus innovative packaging and preparation solutions.

Visitors to the show were able to meet and talk to the producers, as well as taste products that will have never been seen before at a trade show. Harrogate Fine Food Show introduced new producers and focuses on new trends in food and drink.

Burren Balsamics was established by Mrs Hamilton Stubber in 2014 on the back of her extensive experience in catering including a stint as a top chef in London. The company has a successful eight–strong range of balsamic vinegar, including Blackberry and Thyme, Bramley Apple and Chilli and Honey, which are on sale in delis in the UK and Ireland.

Comber Farmers’ Market Celebrates 3rd Birthday

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A birthday is always a special occasion and award winning Comber Farmers’ Market will be pulling out all the stops to celebrate its third birthday this July.

The artisan food event has thrived in its three short years, growing in size and popularity with foodie folk from all over travelling to Comber on the first Thursday of every month.

The market has the very best local produce on offer every month with a selection of meat and fish, dairy, bread and baked goods, locally grown plants, jam and chutneys, fruit and veg and more.

Adding to the celebrations there will be a bread making demonstration from local baker Freddy Strickland in nearby Indie Fude and children’s activities including potato printing, colouring in and cupcake making.

And there’s more!  Live music will fill the market from 12noon also with a performance from local band ‘Full as a Sheugh’.

There really is so much more to Comber Farmers’ Market than meets the eye.

Visitors can expect an interactive experience with the smell of freshly baked soda coming from the griddle and the aroma of bacon drifting up the market.

The producers all enjoy talking to visitors and letting them sample their goods, recommending how to best use and cook their products.

2016/17 saw the market win two awards.  Industry peers voted Comber Farmers’ Market the Best NI Local Market at the NI Year of Food and Drink Awards and the public voted it as Best Event at the Ards Business Awards.

The volunteers who organise the market from Comber Regeneration and Community Partnership plan to make Comber Farmers’ Market even bigger and better in its third year.

Held in St Marys Church car park in Comber Square the first Thursday of every month from 9am to 1.30pm, Comber Farmers’ Market is well worth a visit.

Car parking is available in nearby public car parks, at Parkway on Killinchy Street and the car park of 1st Comber Presbyterian on High Street.

 

Find out more about the popular monthly food event at www.combermarket.co.uk or on the market’s Twitter, Facebook or Instagram pages.

Agri- Shows a Great Shop Window for Farming and Food

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Article by Michele Shirlow for Farm Week

The agricultural show season is now in full swing, and I do my utmost to visit as many as practicable. Why? It’s because I enjoy them and value the opportunity they provide to meet for me to meet as many people as I can in both food and farming.

They are an integral part of our summer, a great way to showcase all that is excellent about our most important industry and one which reaches every part of Northern Ireland. Aided by reasonably good weather, the shows are continuing to grow in popularity. Reflecting the outstanding success of the RUAS at Balmoral, the shows are attracting more exhibitors, including many more food and drink companies, as well as visitors from country and town.

The shows have also moved well beyond livestock and tractors over the past five years and now highlight the importance of our vibrant food and drink industry, especially in rural communities.

What they also do very effectively is to strengthen the bridge between farming, food and consumers. They are places were people from all walks to life come together and socialise. This is particularly important because farming is an occupation in which it’s easy to become isolated. And social isolation often leads to depression and other conditions, and there are indications that these problems are on the rise.

This is a worrying trend which is being exacerbated by the difficulties the industry has experienced particularly in recent years. And there’s post-election confusion surrounding access to the European markets.

Challenges have grown from an ever-changing world. Our farmers have had to grapple with difficulties arising from market volatility that have eroded margins and are now facing uncertainty from the UK’s decision to withdraw from the EU and the likely impact especially in sales of milk and lambs to the Republic of Ireland. Currency volatility has meant feed and other costs, such as fuel, rising steadily and adversely impacting margins.

We are concerned because preserving the family farms which dominate the farming industry here is a key theme in our Taste the Greatness strategic action plan. Our vibrant and increasingly successful food industry is dependent on the superb ingredients supplied by our farmers. A healthy and prosperous farming industry is essential if our economy, especially in rural areas, is to grow and communities prosper.

We need a successful series of agricultural shows to enable the industry to showcase its products, expertise and innovation to the wider community. A successful food industry also encourages more young people to commit to rural communities. In addition to offering worthwhile employment opportunities, the industry drives enterprise both on farms and in businesses.  Over the generations we’ve seen some really smart ideas being transformed into international business success. And not just in food and drink.

Of course a host of successful food companies began life on farms. And our most successful engineering sector, quarrying and washing equipment, has its roots firmly bedded on a family farm near Omagh in Co Tyrone. As a result, Northern Ireland is now the world centre of excellence in the design and manufacture of such sophisticated machinery.

 

This is why everyone here should celebrate and enjoy our agricultural shows. It’s why we are encouraging as many of our food and drink members to get involved. They are a great opportunity to market products and create awareness of food and drink made here.