Newbridge foodies open weekly farmers market
AS small towns and villages outside the M50 continue to grapple with ways of keeping local economies alive, the people of Newbridge, Co Kildare have taken matters into their own hands.
Last Friday, hundreds gathered for the official opening of the town’s new Farmers Market - centred around locally-grown gourmet foods.
Farmers, artisans and food producers, will set up their stalls along The Avenue’ in Whitewater Shopping Centre, beside the wall garden, on a weekly basis from 12 noon-4pm, weather permitting.
Stall-holders will also include award-winning producers such as Flavour Safari, Gibney’s Garden Preserves, The Food Junkie, The Birds and the Teas, Jarilicious Desserts in Jars, Caroline Liston Bakes and Cakes, Eat Like Apes, Anna’s Dairy and Mueller and O’Connell Bakery.
The Dublin commuter-belt town experienced rapid population growth, retail expansion and a property bonanza during the Celtic Tiger’s glory days when it was often described as a ‘cheerleader of the boom. The recession, though, dealt Newbridge the same cruel hand it inflicted on hundreds of other towns nationwide.
But, right now, it’s all about looking forward and finding solutions that will help sustain local revenue and encourage a vibrancy into the future.
As the popularity of tcountry markets con- tinue to gather momentum, Droichead Nua decided to hop on the bandwagon.
Speaking at the official opening, Ingrid Ryan, shopping centre manager said: “the weekly event will offer Newbridge foodies a unique gastronomic and shopping experience with the finest locally-produced foods and epicurean delights to be explored”.
“With regular farmers markets popping up around the country on a weekly basis, the demand for organic and artisan foods continues to gather momentum as part of the localisation food movement,” she said.
“Meeting this need, Whitewater Shopping Centre will offer customers a more diverse shopping experience while supporting local Kildare farmers and artisan producers,” she told local newspaper, the Kildare Nationalist.
“We look forward to the Whitewater farmers’ market becoming a fun, sociable, community-oriented weekly event,” she said.
Farmer markets are also increasing viewed for their ability to combat rural isolation and loneliness - particularly among elderly generations who may not have the means to get out socially and interact with neighbours and friends.
The Taste Council of Ireland are currently urging all grassroots communities to consider the benefits they too may reap by focusing on food and food tourism solutions in their areas.