Tipperary’s fertile pastures are ideal for apple orchards and at The Apple Farm in Cahir, owner Cornelius Traas knows that and has made the most of what nature provided for over 40 years. His orchards produce juicy, crisp apples that in turn give their bright, fresh flavours to the handmade and pressed apple juice that Cornelius produces here on the farm.
Ballycross Apple Farm is a family business; the von Engelbrechten’s have a long tradition of growing the finest quality apples. True artisan juices, there is no added sugar, water or preservatives, just great juices. Their juices can be purchased in Farmshops all over Ireland and are available in many of our restaurants and cafés, and are also available to taste and buy in the Farm Shop and Café here, in season.
Des Jeffares is Mr Blackcurrant! He has been growing blackcurrants for Ribena for many years, but the Jeffares history of fruit farming goes back way longer than that. Des is the third generation to grow the berries on his land in the rolling countryside of Drinagh, County Wexford, and part of a pretty prestigious bunch known as the Wexford Blackcurrant Growers.
David Llewellyn starting growing apples in North County Dublin just nine years ago and since then has masterminded a range of juices, cider, cider vinegar, balsamic cider vinegar and Lusca Irish wine. David’s ethos of producing wholesome, simple, natural products and achieving quality by using locally grown fruit carefully has been at the conception of this range.
Unit E1 Annacotty Business Park Annacotty Co Limerick
Coffee lovers everywhere will enjoy Ponaire coffee. This family owned and run business is a local handcrafted coffee roaster, the only one in the Mid West region. As artisan producers, they are passionate about good, traceable, healthy food and strive to work closely to support other artisan producers throughout Ireland.
There is no excuse for plastic sandwiches. Ireland has come of age and scattered around the country are Good Food Ireland members brimming with the best. Pick up a picnic and head for the hills, writes Clodagh McKenna.