People are willing to pay for quality food despite the downturn in the economy, Euro-Toques Ireland said today as it presented its annual food awards.
The awards are selected by chefs and cooks and honour people who have made an outstanding contribution to Irish food. This year’s awards focused on people who produce raw agri-food products and were announced by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Shane McEntee,
One of the five winners was David Tiernan, a dairy farmer from Dunleer, Co Louth who produces raw milk for sale. He also produces Glebe Brethan cheese, made from raw cow's milk.
The Government wants to introduce an outright ban on the sale of raw liquid milk and bottles of Mr Tiernan's raw milk were removed from a photoshoot with the Minister this morning.
Asked why he was presenting an award for a product that his Government is trying to ban, Mr McEntee said Mr Tiernan's dairy produced a number of products apart from raw milk and he was "happy to present the award to David as a quality dairy farmer despite their differences in relation to the sale of raw milk".
Mr McEntee confirmed that he supports the ban on the sale of raw milk for direct human consumption.
Euro-toques Ireland commissioner general Gearoid Lynch, chef-proprietor of the Old Post Inn in Colverhill, Co Cavan, said it was important to cultivate small companies and suppliers.
"If these suppliers don't survive we will not achieve what we can in our restaurants. Seventy-five per cent of what I do now comes from within a 10 mile range of the restaurant," he said. "I think people are looking for quality. Every one of our suppliers listed on the front page. People can see their food is sourced locally. They like to think they are supporting local suppliers."
Alan Pierce and Mark Winterbotham of Gold River Farm won an award for their organic pork, which they raise in Aughrim, Co Wicklow. Their farm was set up in 2000 as an organic vegetable farm. They acquired a small number of saddleback pigs two years ago and the response from chefs looking for outdoor reared pork has seen them expand to slaughtering 400 pigs this year.
The biggest problem facing their business is trying to recoup payment from clients that have gone out of business, says Mr Winterbotham. "That has been a real challenge but demand for our product remains constant," he said.
A Growing Pleasure, based in Naas, Co Kildare, run by Pat Clarke and his daughter Dearbhaile, won an award for micro-greens. They produce herbs, salads, cresses, edible flowers and shoots. They started out supplying farmers' markets three years ago and now count Michelin-starred restaurants among their clientele.
"The recession hasn't affected us that much. Our produce is aimed at top-end restaurants and we have found that their customers are willing to pay for good quality food," said Ms Clarke.
Willie Drohan and Aidan Dunwoody of Comeragh Mountain Lamb also picked up an award. "We're delighted to have our award after three years in the business. We've put in a lot of work and it's great when you get the recognition," said Mr Dunwoody.
Hans Wieland of the Organic Centre in Rossinver, Co Leitrim received a special award for his work running training courses in organic holticulture and artisan food production.
