Bord Bia is teaching the Irish producers how to sell locally
Bord Bia is set to host a series of skills workshops designed for farmers’ market producers this September. Specially developed by Bord Bia, ‘Skills Training for Selling at Farmers’ Markets’ is open to Irish food, drink, seafood and horticulture producers and aimed at both existing stall holders and first-time producers.
Delivered by experienced stall holder and farmer, Margaret Hoctor of Kilmullen Farm in County Wicklow, the half-day workshops will cover the wide variety of knowledge and skills required to sell at farmers’ markets including sales and marketing skills, budgeting, stall management and customer service.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture Mr Andrew Doyle TD said: “Farmers’ markets are an important feature of the Irish food industry, benefiting both consumers, producers and the local community. Now into its third year, these Bord Bia workshops have assisted the development of many local food businesses and the thriving farmers’ market channel and are also responding to consumer demands for sourcing and buying locally produced food.”
Farmers’ markets are becoming increasingly popular with consumers with Bord Bia identifying over 150 food markets in Ireland in 2014, including community markets, farmers markets, lunch-time markets, weekend city markets, co-operatives and country markets.
A recent study by Bord Bia, into Irish and British consumers and their food (Bord Bia Periscope, 2017), found that buying local is important to over two-thirds of consumers in the Republic. The same study found that farmers markets are synonymous with local food with 41% of consumers describing ‘local food’ as “food available in farmers’ markets”.
Maria Stokes, Trade Marketing Specialist in Retail at Bord Bia commented: “Bord Bia is delighted to provide these workshops to support Irish food, drink and horticulture producers to grow their business at farmers’ markets. The workshops offer an invaluable opportunity for producers to share their knowledge and expertise, network with fellow producers and become market-ready.”
The practical and interactive half-day workshops will take place around the country starting in Kinsale, County Cork on Tuesday 4th September (Acton’s Hotel), followed by Dundrum in Dublin (Airfield Estate) on Wednesday 5th September, Lough Derg, County Tipperary on Tuesday 25th September (Coolbawn Quay) and finally in Westport, County Mayo (Knockranny House Hotel) on Wednesday 26th September. The workshops will begin at 9 AM and they require a fee of €20 per person.
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