MINISTER SARGENT PRESENTS ‘GOOD PRACTICE STANDARD’ TO BALBRIGGAN FISH & FARMERS’ MARKET
Minister for Food and Horticulture Trevor Sargent TD, presented a ‘Bord Bia Good Practice Standard’ to Balbriggan Fish and Farmers’ Market on Friday 23rd October.

- Cllr. Ciarán Byrne (Mayor of Fingal), Trevor Sargent TD, Minister for Food & Horticulture, Michael Grimes (Market Coordinator) and Cllr. Monica Harford (Cathaoirleach of Balbriggan Town Council)
He continued, ‘Community based markets such as this are a vital way for producers to access their customers. The absence of Farmers’ markets in the past has resulted in the number of people involved in agriculture falling year by year. In 1980 there were 1,220 growers of fruit and vegetables in Ireland. In 1990 that number had fallen to 780. In 2000 there were 540 and today there are just 280 left. Unless we have farmers’ markets that number will continue to fall.’
Note: Balbriggan Fish and Farmers’ Market takes place every Friday from 9.00am to 2.00pm. It has moved indoors from Georges Square to the Combined Clubs Community Centre on Dublin Street for the winter months. The market has proved a great success since its opening last June offering fresh fish, fruit, vegetables (including organic), home baking, award winning cheeses, organic eggs, Irish honey, juices, flowers and potted plants.
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