Nineteen companies have responded to Food NI’s search for entries for the prestigious People’s Choice Award in the forthcoming Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association’s Awards (NIFDA). Overall, 20 products have been entered for the award.

The NIFDA awards are taking place on 24^th March at a gala event in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast and voting is now live on the Food NI website. Voting closes on Sunday 19^th March and the winner will be announced at the NIFDA awards.

Food NI invited local food and drink companies to bid for the popular vote as part of its support for the coveted NIFDA awards, which are held every two years and showcase the quality and innovation of local producers.

Michele Shirlow, Food NI chief executive, says: “The NIFDA awards have proved to be an immensely important initiative for the agri-food industry here. We have organised the popular voting for the People’s Award over a number of years and are delighted to again be involved.

“This is a golden opportunity for people here to choose a food or drink company they believe provides simply the best tasting product.

“Nineteen companies, both large and small and across all sectors, responded to our invitation to submit entries. I’d urge people to get involved in what is a hugely significant competition that has an influence on retailers and foodservice operations here.

“People can show their support for a company  by clicking onto our website below to vote for a company which they believe has made the greater impact with consumers in terms of original and outstandingly tasty products.

“Awareness of the quality of local food and drink was enhanced substantially during last year’s tremendously successful Year of Food and Drink. We continue or campaign to promote local producers and to help them increase business both here and outside Northern Ireland,” adds Mrs Shirlow.”

The link to vote: https://www.nigoodfood.com/poll/nifda-2017/ and NIFDA website for awards details:  http://nifdaawards.com/award-categories/

People’s Choice – the finalists

1. Baronscourt Estate Venison, Omagh
2. Corndale Free Range Chorizo, Limavady
3. Dale Farm Dairies, Belfast – two entries
4. Erin Grove Preservatives, Enniskillen
5. Finnebrogue Artisan, Downpatrick
6. Flavour First, Donaghadee
7. Glens of Antrim Potatoes, Cushendall
8. Granny Shaw’s Fudge, Antrim
9. Irwin’s Bakery, Craigavon
10. Krazibaker, Dromore
11. Long Meadow Cider, Loughgall
12. Mash Direct, Comber
13. Moditions Bakery, Ballymena
14. Pizzado, Portaferry
15. Pop Notch Popcorn, Maghera
16. Punjana Tea, Belfast
17. Ruby Blue Vodka and Fruit Berry Liqueurs
18. Suki Tea, Belfast
19. Tayto Crisps and Snacks, Tandragee

On Thursday 2 March, recently awarded ‘Best NI Local Market’ Comber Farmers’ Market will celebrate World Book Day in a special way!

We all have that one cook book where we have only used a few ideas or recipes from… it is time to swap it out!

Out with the old and in with the new as Comber Farmers’ Market will have a ‘Cook Book Swap’ stall in which you can do exactly that!

With some schools off for the election the market will also have a colouring in competition for kids, looking for the best cook book cover design.

This month Comber Farmers’ Market was recognised as the Best NI Local Market at the Belfast Telegraph Year of Food and Drink Awards, an amazing accolade voted for by peers from the NI food and drink industry.

As Comber continues to develop as the ‘Home of Great Taste’, the market is delighted to play a part in putting the town firmly on the foodie map.

Every first Thursday of the month, Comber Farmers’ Market holds around 25 stalls who individually show off their locally grown and sourced items with meat and fish, fresh bread, eggs, milk, jams and chutneys, chocolate, plants, fruit and veg, baked goods, cheese and so much more.

The market can be found in St Mary’s Church Hall car park in Comber Square.  Car parking is available nearby at Parkway off Killinchy Street and 1^st Comber Presbyterian on High Street.

More information on Comber Farmers’ Market can be found at combermarket.co.uk, and regular updates are posted on the Facebook, Twitter pages and Instagram pages.

A team from the Balloo Inns Group visited Down High School in Downpatrick to host a special ‘Science of Food’ workshop for budding young chefs and scientists on Wednesday 22nd February.

Award-winning chef Danny Millar brought twenty Year 8 pupils on an experimental culinary journey of soda bread making and the science of the family favourite dough.

From the science behind bread to experimenting with weird and wonderful combinations and flavours, the hands-on event gave the young chefs and scientists’ food for thought and an opportunity to create their own tastes.
Ronan Sweeney, Managing Director, Balloo Inns, said: “Food education and nutrition is vitally important for young people, and we were delighted to host our workshop at Down High School to help the pupils learn about the journey of food. Both food and science are very much in the spotlight in Northern Ireland and we wanted to get involved and provide young people with food for thought on local ingredients used in some of our dining classics.”

Mrs Sharon McKee, Head of Home Economics at Down High School, commented: “The pupils had a fantastic time getting to know the science behind food at the interactive workshop. Learning from an award-winning chef provides real inspiration for the pupils and we would like to thank Danny and the team at Balloo Inns for giving us a unique insight into the science behind bread baking and experimenting with soda creations.”

The Michelin recommended Balloo Inns Group includes the internationally renowned Balloo House in Killinchy and Poacher’s Pocket, Lisbane, along with The Parsons’ Nose in Hillsborough which is set to unveil a new chapter and open soon with an extended menu and exciting new refurbishment.

The owners of Bradkeel Social Farm in the heart of the Sperrins are throwing open their gates to visitors this weekend as part of their contribution to the growth of the rural tourism market in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.

The Campbell family are offering a unique opportunity for visitors who want to immerse themselves in local culture and landscape to experience and taste life on their sheep farm at Glenelly Road, Plumbridge on Saturday and Sunday, February 25th and 26th.

The event will take the form of two half-day workshops from 10am until 1pm funded by Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Year of Food Industry Support Programme to celebrate ‘Love Local’ month.
The hands-on workshops are an ideal way to experience life on a working Irish farm in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, hear about farming traditions, meet the sheep, pigs and hens and bake your own bread in the farmhouse kitchen.

Mabel and John Campbell run Bradkeel Social Farm, which has been in the family for several generations near the village of Plumbridge, with their son Aaron (23). As well as supporting participants on regular placements as part of its community outreach programme, Bradkeel has also been moving into the growing local tourism market.

Bradkeel Social Farm is one of the local rural tourism providers in the Cycle Sperrins consortium with Far and Wild outdoor adventure company which won ‘Best NI Tours and Trails’ at the recent NI Year of Food and Drink Awards. It is also involved with The Slow Adventure in the Northern Territories (SAINT), a three year Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme being run by Derry City and Strabane District Council which supports rural tourism businesses to develop Slow Adventure experiences in the region, connecting people to landscape, people and local food.

Looking forward to welcoming visitors to the ‘Love Local’ workshops on February 25th and 26th, Mabel Campbell explained: “This event will provide visitors with an opportunity to experience life on a rural Irish farm through two half day programmes of activities including, learning how to make traditional Irish scones, and participating in our farmyard trail, engaging with the farmer, meeting the animals and learning what foods we grow and other produce available on the farm.

“It is our aim to educate and tell the story of our local food history, farming traditions and heritage creating a unique visitor experience. We aim to be a self-sufficient and sustainable farm; we grow our own potatoes and vegetables and have organic eggs from our hens. Being innovative and utilising our resources – our land, our animals and the environment – shows that we love the place where we live and are passing on knowledge gained from generation to generation reliving our vibrant history.”
Visitors will not leave empty-handed as they will receive a small basket of seasonal organic local provenance, recipes and other information which it is hoped will inspire them to share their experience of the unique tourism offer in the Sperrins.

Mabel added: “Bradkeel Social Farm has a passion for meeting the needs of tourists who want to explore more authentic experiences through connecting to nature, local food, engaging with local people and local knowledge. This project aims to raise the profile of small rural farming and its practices in the Sperrins, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which can also be used as an inspiration for other farms in Ireland.”

Jennifer O’Donnell, Rural Tourism Project Officer with Derry City and Strabane District Council, said the free workshops were a great opportunity for visitors to experience life on a local working farm and encouraged those interested in attending this weekend to book as soon as possible as places are limited – and make sure to wrap up warm and bring the waterproofs!

To book a free place on one of the workshops taking place on February 25th and 26th, contact Bradkeel Social Farm, 58 Glenelly Road, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, BT79 8BN, Tel: 028 8164 8610 or Email: bradkeelsocialfarm@gmail.com

For more information on Derry City and Strabane District Council’s food tourism projects, visit www.derrystrabane.com/food

Dozens of food and drink products from smaller local companies were showcased at a major event in the Northern Ireland Executive’s Office in Brussels on Tuesday evening. The event was organised by our members in Ulster Artisans, the voluntary body formed by many local companies.

It was a great idea that Food NI was delighted to support. We have a track record in the development and promotion of initiatives to raise the profile of local companies outside Northern Ireland particularly in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. The objective of the event in Brussels was to increase awareness of the breadth and quality of our food and drink and participating producers at the heart of the European Union. The project was also supported by Invest NI.

It proved to be an immensely successful event that produced great contacts with influential business people in the Belgian capital.

I still find it hard to accept that organising such promising marketing initiatives for smaller food and drink companies here could become much more difficult after the United Kingdom exits the European Union in the not too distant future. Europe is, after all, among the biggest international markets for our food and drink. And EU member the Republic of Ireland is our biggest single market beyond Great Britain.

The Benelux region has long been the main springboard for our companies seeking to grow sales in the EU and beyond. Several of the companies at the presentation are hoping to follow up contacts made during the presentation and win sales in the region. But will they be able to sustain any business agreed post-Brexit? And what’s the point for any potential customers against the background of a looming Brexit and the prospect of high tariffs being introduced which would impact adversely on prices? What will our relationship with the EU be like if the exit proves to be a bruising one?

I know most of our companies are concerned about the likely impact on their trade opportunities if the UK’s decision to ‘pull up the drawbridge’ to Europe, the so-called ‘hard Brexit’ is implemented. They had hoped for continued full and unfettered access to the single market. What the Government can achieve in terms of a trade deal with the remaining EU remains to be seen.

Overall, our agri-food industry and short-term prosperity, especially in rural communities, are heavily dependent on EU business. The industry’s concerns have also been exacerbated by suggestions that trade deals with other parts of the world could take up to 10 years to finalise.

And for many of our smaller and medium sized companies some of the ‘glorious opportunities’ being promised wouldn’t be that easy to access, to supply and service. There are also real concerns about the likelihood of the promised trade deals producing a flood of cheaper food and drink from countries with lower hygiene and animal husbandry standards than those currently being observed here.

Challenging times lie ahead for our most important industry. A united voice involving all stakeholders is clearly more important than ever before.