FARMERS MARKETS

Muckit

Hi

What are people opinions onhere of Farmer's Markets?

Do any of you have any dealings with them, be it buying or selling at them?

Are there any good ones in your area?

Shauny2010

From what I see there seems to be a limited amount of Genuine Irish produce there. A lot of foreign goods such as olive oils and the like. Also a lot of Spanish boxes so I guess there sourcing fruit and veg from there also. a Pity really:(

bbam

Only 35 markets to date meet the Bord Bia recomendations.. I'd say most are more markets than Farmers Markets, locally produced foods are at a minimum in these markets..

whelan1

there's a new one in slane , seems good

Corsendonk

Shauny2010 wrote: »

From what I see there seems to be a limited amount of Genuine Irish produce there. A lot of foreign goods such as olive oils and the like. Also a lot of Spanish boxes so I guess there sourcing fruit and veg from there also. a Pity really:(

Yes most of the fruit and vegetable stands seem to be using imports from the Fruit and Vegetable market in Dublin which makes business sense or your going to have a very limited range at times of year like now but there less than honest with labelling the country of origin on there stalls. If that were beef the IFA would have it flag to the Dept. And damages farmers markets because when you chat in places like the food forum people seem to have the impression all the food is local.

Tora Bora

In my opinion these so called farmers markets, are a right con job:o

Most of the sellers there, have about as much right to call themselves farmers, as a cat. Airy, fairy, arty, crafty, banjo pickin, crowd most of them, with about 5 sq yards of veg growing at the back of the restored cottage in the country. 95% of the veg they sell, is unashamedly bought from wholesalers / importers and sold on as "organic", locally produced:P .. at a right ole, margin:)
I can definitely say, as a cattle farmer, that if I produced and sold my produce with as little regulation, paperwork, tracability, cash in the hand transactions, I would probably give up the day job, make a respectable income from farming, enjoy life more, and probably have time to learn to play the banjo:D

Muckit

I have to agree with alot of poster on here regarding Farmer's Markets.

I do think the concept is a great one, i.e. local produce sold locally by a Farmer!:D

However like most good ideas in this country, you get the opportunists who go twisting and taking advantage of the whole ethos of a good idea, to the detriment of the authentic farmer's market retailer. Pity really...

I do feel that it'd cut out alot of crap if we could sell our produce directly to the customer. At least you'd know that you were getting a fair market price for it, which is all any farmer in this country aspires to. The public won't be long telling you whether it's up to scratch or not:rolleyes:

Corsendonk

Tora Bora wrote: »

In my opinion these so called farmers markets, are a right con job:o

Most of the sellers there, have about as much right to call themselves farmers, as a cat. Airy, fairy, arty, crafty, banjo pickin, crowd most of them, with about 5 sq yards of veg growing at the back of the restored cottage in the country. 95% of the veg they sell, is unashamedly bought from wholesalers / importers and sold on as "organic", locally produced:P .. at a right ole, margin:)
I can definitely say, as a cattle farmer, that if I produced and sold my produce with as little regulation, paperwork, tracability, cash in the hand transactions, I would probably give up the day job, make a respectable income from farming, enjoy life more, and probably have time to learn to play the banjo:D

There is regulation of them but as usual the government agencies steer clear of them. Pet project of the previous minister of horticulture who for all his good intentions with farmers market lives on another planet.

The lack of local abbatoirs must restrict the meat offering? For some strange reason the Irish Government enforced the Hygiene regulations for abbatoirs to the letter of the law which forced the small local abbatoirs to close while other EU countries like Italy have small part weekly abbatoirs that kill 3-4 animals a week. The Italians were just more flexible and worked with the people who ran them. But less hassle for the Irish government agencies to regulate when you concentrate it all and the big abbatoirs must be very grateful indeed.