Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture Andrew Doyle was honoured to be a guest speaker (Wednesday 16th November) at the An Bord Bia Farmers’ Market skills training workshops at Tinakilly House County Wicklow.
The ‘Skills Training for Selling at Farmers Markets’ workshop was specifically designed by Bord Bia, to provide practical solutions to the challenges most frequently faced by food, drink & horticulture producers and sellers.
Doyle spoke about his own experiences of selling turnips, holly and Christmas trees at Smithfied Markets many years ago and the importance of famers selling directly to consumers at farmers’ markets.
Local food producer, farmer and successful stallholder Margaret Hoctor from Kilmullen Farm, Co. Wicklow delivered the workshop to over 30 participants. Margaret, a regular at the Marley Park food market in Dublin shared her own knowledge and wide experience of she developed the family business through this channel. The workshop was very interactive with participants sharing their ideas and experiences in farmers’ markets.
Speaking at the event Minister Doyle said “Farmers’ markets are a great opportunity for food producers and entrepreneurs to tell their story and to understand what captures consumers’ interest – what consumers regard as local, authentic and unique, what would encourage them to purchase on a regular basis. I am delighted that An Bord Bia has decided to develop this series of workshops providing useful advice in relation to budgeting, marketing and stall management to farmers’ market sellers. These events are also wonderful networking opportunity for stallholders.”
ENDS