The Ortus Food and Crafts Pop up Event is a one day only, fun for the family event.

A blossoming trio for Armagh Cider Company.

Armagh Cider Company, the first Northern Ireland producer of commercial cider has recently won awards at three prestigious awards ceremonies, two international and one national – The International Cider Challenge, The Great Lakes Cider & Perry Competition and the Royal Bath and West Society Show.

Armagh Cider Company were founded in 2005, at Ballinteggart House – the family farm of Philip & Helen Troughton, just outside Portadown. The Troughton family have been growing apples on the farm for over 5 generations, and produce a range of Ciders and Apple Juices made primarily using the Armagh Bramley Apple which has recently received a PGI status.

Operating from a purpose built cidery unit, they are proud of their ‘Blossom to Bottle’ ethos, being the only producer in the North of Ireland who handle all operations – from growing, to pressing, to fermenting and blending, to bottling and distribution; giving them full security and control of the entire process.

The Great Lakes Cider & Perry Competition was held in Michigan in March 2013. The competition was formed to showcase and promote the art of apple and pear fermentation beverages. Armagh Cider Company won two bronze medals at the awards for their ‘Carsons Crisp’ and ‘Carsons Premium’ Ciders.

The International Cider Challenge, is designed to recognize the diversity and range of packaged products in the dynamic and growing cider category. Having previously won awards in 2010, they were successful in obtaining two bronze medals for their ‘Carsons Crisp’ and ‘Maddens Orchard Bramble’ Ciders in the recent 2013 competition. Other winners of the 2013 awards include Aspalls, Bulmers, Rekorderlig, Thatchers and Westons.

Bringing their products to the home of juice and cider at the Royal Bath and West Society Show, where the biggest orchard and cider competition in the country and possibly the world takes place, Armagh Cider Company are proud to announce that their ‘AJ Apple Juice’ successfully gained a silver medal.

The products are available nationwide through James E McCabes Ltd, Pallas Foods, Noreast Distribution, and many more. Receiving awards from these three prominent competitions has seen a significant increase in sales and recognition. The company recently hit 10,000 likes on Facebook and have successfully received a listing with a major Beer and Cider Importer in Finland. The company has also been successful in obtaining sales from other artisan beer and cider makers through contract bottling.

Issued on behalf of Tesco NI

Great news for potato-lovers!  The first crop of Comber earlies will hit Tesco stores this weekend and supplier, Wilson’s Country Potatoes say they are well worth the wait!

After a slow start to the season with our harsh winter and cold, wet spring, the potato crop has been something of a worry.  But as the first of the Comber earlies were dug last night from Hugh Chambers’ field on the shores of Strangford Lough, the early crop is looking very promising.

Inspecting the first potatoes, Lewis Cunningham, Managing Director of Wilson’s Country, which is supplying the Comber earlies to Tesco stores across Northern Ireland said, “We are delighted with the look of these first Comber earlies.   It has been worth holding off: they are a great size and full of the delicious flavour you can only get from the ground in this unique part of the world.

“Thanks to that little blast of sunshine we had and then a good watering with the rain last week, these are superb.   We have been watching the forecast really closely and intentionally not rushed to lift the crop early as we know that leaving them for just a week will provide a superior taste experience to our consumers.

“They are harvested in the evening to allow maximum growing and flavour development in the soil.  This means they not only reach stores in tip top condition but literally within hours of digging.”

Wilson’s Country is supplying the Comber earlies under the Tesco own-brand.  Sandra Weir, Tesco Buying Manager said, “As we were going to sleep last night, grower Hugh Chambers and the team from Wilson’s were hard at work digging and packing the first crop, which is in Tesco stores this morning – you can’t get any fresher than that.  Comber potatoes are a much-anticipated sign of summer here in Northern Ireland.  This is also the first year since they were awarded the European PGI status, making them something really special as a local delicacy.  They were definitely worth the wait!”

For more information on local products in Tesco follow at www.facebook.com/tastenorthernireland

Issued on behalf of Tesco NI

Two local companies have celebrated a healthy new deal and the sunny weather with a surprise picnic lunch for City Centre workers.  Dundonald-based sandwich supplier, The Brunch Box and Killinchy’s Willowbrook Farm have just secured new supply deals with Tesco NI worth a total of £130,000 a year.

As temperatures soared last week, the two companies took their new range of sandwiches and salads out to hot and hungry workers basking in the sun outside Belfast City Hall to give them a try.

Willowbrook Farm has launched a range of delicious takeaway salad pots including an oriental Hoisin Duck salad, a Greek salad and a Sweet Chilli Prawn and Noodle bowl.  The Brunch Box has launched a new range of sandwiches to extend the range which it supplies to Tesco.  The new sandwich selection reflects local tastes with favourites including Cheese Salad, Chicken & Ham and Chilli Chicken, all in distinctive recyclable brown paper trays.

All these products are locally made, using locally sourced ingredients and delivered fresh to stores for hungry workers on the go.  Both products can be found in the sandwich/food to go section – Brunch Box sandwiches are now in 13 Tesco stores and the Willowbrook salads are available in 28 stores.

Sandra Weir, Tesco Buying Manager said, “Summer is here at last and these two local suppliers are bringing us some delicious and exciting new products to eat on the move.  They are part of the Taste NI campaign which we use to highlight the range of superb local food & drink suppliers we have in Northern Ireland.  We would encourage customers to try these fresh locally-made products and support the local firms behind them – they are perfect for a summer lunchbreak and they’re super-tasty.”

The Brunch Box employs 48 people in its Dundonald premises and Willowbrook Farm, based in Whiterocks, Killinchy, Co Down has 250 employees and also supplies Tesco with a range of bagged salads.

For more information on Taste NI follow on www.facebook.com/tastenorthernireland

Comber businesswoman, Tracy Hamilton has won the prestigious All Ireland award for agribusiness and will go on to represent Ireland next year in the EU-wide Innovation Prize for Women in Agriculture.  Tracy was awarded the top prize at the All-Ireland FBD (Irish Farmers Journal) Women in Agriculture Awards held at Celbridge, Co. Kildare for Agribusiness and Innovation.

Mash Direct is an independent, family-owned farming and food production enterprise launched by Tracy and her husband Martin in 2004 at their farm in County Down, close to the shores of Strangford Lough. They are brand leaders and award winning producers of quality, convenient vegetable and potato dishes. Products range from traditional accompaniments such as mashed potato and champ to complete ready-meals supplying major supermarkets in the UK and Ireland and as far afield as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Tracy is an inspiring businesswoman who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to Mash Direct and is a tireless ambassador for the Northern Irish Food Industry.  She is the first woman to be elected to the Board of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) and also sits on the Board of Food NI.  Tracy is a supportive and active member of Women in Business and the Institute of Directors.

Her passion and hard work are an excellent source of inspiration to others in the farming community; Tracy really is a true leader in agribusiness innovation.

The Women and Agriculture Awards provide a national platform to recognise the central role women in agriculture play in farming and acknowledge the innovative approach they take in  diversifying  and adding value to their  farm business.  It is a lifetime award and Tracy will now go on to represent Ireland for the EU Innovation Prize.

Conor Gouldson, Company Secretary FBD Trust comments ‘Women continue to play a key role in the running of the Irish farm and the significant decisions taken concerning the farm enterprise. The Women in Agriculture Awards demonstrates the incredible depth of talent and innovation which women bring to Irish farms, adding value to the farm output and growing national household brands’

Tracy Hamilton, Mash Direct comments on winning the award ‘To win this prestigious award for our innovation is a wonderful endorsement for Mash Direct.

It is an honour to be recognised and rewarded for diversifying a small family farm into a national household brand.  I look forward to my ambassadorial role highlighting women’s increasing contribution to the agri-business sector.”