A new online farmers market will launch this week in Baile na hAbhann in Connemara. Called NeighbourFood, it's a fresh new way to do your weekly shop. Its aim is to create a link between local producers and local people, and it will run every week at An Tulach (Coláiste Chamuis), next door to the Irish-language television channel TG4, which has its headquarters in the village.
“NeighbourFood is a really easy way to get the best local produce and at the same time support local producers near you,” says chef Diarmuid Ó Mathúna, who will be running the market. “Each week members can place an order on neighbourfood.ie and then collect a basket full of goodies on the following Wednesday evening.”
A wide range of produce will be available from the An Tulach NeighbourFood market, including delicious leaves and veg from Garraí Glas, award-winning meat from McGeough's butchers and some of Sullivan's Country Grocers famous breads. If you feel like you've earned a treat, The Wine Buff will also be selling their amazing wines.
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| Chef Diarmuid O Mathuna who is launching the new NeighbourFood Market in Baile na hAbhann, Connemara |
There are over 50 NeighbourFood markets across the country now and Diarmuid worked at one of the first: “We saw huge demand for the service from the start. People loved getting such great products so easily and at the same time knowing that they were putting plenty of money back into the pockets of small local producers.”
NeighbourFood gives 80c out of every €1 spent on the site back to the producers, whereas many large supermarkets give them less than 50c. Because the producers get the orders ahead of time, they can produce what's needed and no more, reducing food waste. There's also a strong focus on seasonal and organic products and packaging is avoided as much as possible. NeighbourFood saw a huge increase in demand during lockdown because it is so well suited to safe COVID 19 practices.
The first step is registering for NeighbourFood, which is completely free. Then each week members have until midnight on Monday to place an order on the site. From then until Wednesday evening the producers will work hard to get everything ready for collection between 4 and 6pm that day. NeighbourFood – An Tulach will host its first collection on Wednesday, 26 August, which means customers need to be registered and have their orders in by midnight, Monday 24 August.
To register visit www.neighbourfood.ie/antulach