STRONG SALES AND BIG CROWDS AT FOOD FESTIVAL
Organisers of the 2008 Mitchelstown Food Festival are ‘exceptionally happy’ with this year’s event which has been proclaimed a huge success. This year’s festival was not troubled by last Sunday’s downpour as the venue at the Mitchelstown Business Park provided excellent shelter for the day’s activity.
“We are indebted to Europlan for the excellent venue,” Ger Moylan of the Mitchelstown Food Festival committee said of the group who provided the venue free of charge. Ger also revealed that the poor conditions on Sunday led to other similar festivals in the region being abandoned, with the Mitchelstown Food Festival providing a last minute venue for some exhibitors.
51 exhibitors took part on the day and Sean Hyland of the committee paid tribute to both the high quality of the stands on display and to the sponsors, without whom the event would not have been possible.
The big winners at this year’s festival were Glanworth Mill, who won the best stand prize while Hodgin’s black pudding made it two prizes in as many weeks, with the best product prize joining the 3 gold star awarded to the delicious pudding at a London food show recently.
While the festival focused on foods, organisers made sure there was something for all the family, with music and entertainment for young and old alike provided free of charge on the day.
Minister for Food Trevor Sargent proved to be a popular special guest, and he took the opportunity to meet many familiar faces at each exhibition.
The minister’s opening speech highlighted the importance of the local food economy and how it can be utilised to maximise food security and downsize the demand on energy.
All exhibitors noted strong sales this year and with the event turning a profit, the organising committee have in place funding for next year’s festival.
Speaking to The Avondhu the organisers have given a strong statement of intent, with the committee indicating that the event ‘cannot go back and must look to moving forward.’ With this in mind the committee is already scouting potential venues for the 2009 festival which, based on this year’s success, will be one of the big local events in 2009.
Published:
Thursday 18th September 7:22pm
