find local produce...

w w w . l i t t l e g r e e n m a r k e t . c o . u kNB: The following information is based on some facts and conversations, however should be treated as a prototype. Details are subject to change.

Location of products is not accurate. All photographs, illustrations and forward by Vicki McWhinney – Little Green Market TM

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Have you ever wondered where your food really comes from, how far it’s travelled to reach you, how long it’s been sitting on the shelf and does it still have nutritional value? We can only believe what the label tells us. Is that good enough? Going back before there were supermarkets, we would get our food from the baker, the butcher and head to the local market or local grocer for seasonal produce. We knew our grocer personally and took their advice on how to prepare what was available. Life was less hectic then and we had time to pick and chose. We need to ask ourselves, wouldn’t we benefi t, if we went that extra mile for ourselves and our loved ones? The benefi ts are value for money, better diet from seasonal produce, positive impact on communities, retail, food industry and independent traders.

The supermarkets sure have changed their tune since the horse meat scandal. Now everywhere you go like ASDA, Tescos and Sainsbury’s they’re promoting local produce. This is fantastic, however I still fi nd myself searching for local produce amongst the French apples, Dutch peppers and Spanish cabbage. The one that gets my goat is why would we buy fi sh anywhere else other than Northern Ireland? The supermarkets seem to stock more fi sh from other countries than anything else. It makes you wonder.

Most people today are concerned about the environment and issues such as air miles and carbon footprint. I feel there is a growing interest in buying fresh local produce. I think

we have just become accustomed to convenience with our busy lifestyles today. Yes, the supermarket has indeed more choice and may at times be more convenient, but the negatives still out weigh the positives. We’re all free to make our own choices, but doesn’t it seem right to support local businesses, like the jam makers, the bread bakers and the hard working potato pickers.

At Little Green Market we believe we have a solution! A website and phone application that sources local and fresh produce which brings the community together. The consumer will have this right at their fi ngertips, locally sourced produce from local farmers, markets and independent producers. This product should benefi t everyone!

Little Green Market is a bridge between the consumer and the farmer and/or local producer. This application will help you fi nd local produce. We are unique because we hand select local talent, we have met them and know their story as you will too? It will direct you on where to fi nd the desired produce within a certain distance but it will also tell you where the food was grown and how the product was made from fresh ingredients. The application itself is easy to follow, the information provided is WHO, WHAT AND WHERE, this makes it simple. It will also inform you whether the produce can be found at your local market or at an independent farm shop.

I hope you enjoy meeting our selected producers so far. Have fun!

www.littlegreenmarket.co.uk

About us...

Farm Shops Many rural towns and countryside are best served by innovative farm shops – Chapman’ of Portadown, McKee’s in Newtownards and Cloughbane Farm Shop, County Tyrone. All offer a mouth-watering array of homemade bread, pastries, prepared meals, fresh vegetables and speciality meats. Farm shops are also selling prepared dishes such as the herby marinated shanks or shepherds pies made by Cloughbane Farm Shop.

Farmer’s MarketsOne of the best ways to experience authentic Northern Irish speciality foods is to visit one of the Farmer’s markets that take place all over the province. These are great places to see, taste, and talk to artisan producers about local food and drink.

In Season - Northern Ireland’s typical seasonal larderNorthern Ireland has a varied menu of seasonal foods, covering autumnal specialities, summer recipes, and gourmet comfort food for the winter months. To help in choosing seasonal produce from the markets and farm shops, here is a calendar guide of local seasonal food.

October - MarchVegetables: potatoes, carrots, onions, parsnip, leeks, turnip, kale, purple sprouting broccoli, caulifl ower, cabbage, swede, brussels sprouts, parsley, mushrooms, parsnips, and beetroot. Fruit: pears and apples. Game: venison, rabbit, partridge and pheasant. Meat and Poultry: chicken, beef, pork, lamb and mutton, wild duck. Fish and Seafood: langoustine, mussels, oysters, salmon and cockles.

April - JuneVegetables: new potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, leeks, caulifl ower, mushrooms, spring greens, salads and pak-choi, rhubarb and cucumber. Fruit: early glasshouse tomatoes, strawberries and raspberries. Game: venison and pheasant. Meat and Poultry: chicken, beef, pork, lamb and mutton. Fish and Seafood: langoustine, trout, salmon, eel and cockles. July - September: Vegetables: potatoes, carrots, onions, salads, spring onions, celery, courgettes, tomatoes, peas, broad and runner beans, mushrooms, beetroot, green broccoli, caulifl ower, sweetheart cabbage, rhubarb and fennel. Fruit: strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, blackberries (brambles), plums, damsons and tomatoes. Game: rabbit and partridge. Meat and Poultry: chicken, beef, pork, lamb and mutton, wild duck. Fish and Seafood: salmon, pike, trout, eel, langoustine, mussels and oysters.

Fresh Fruit & Vegetables

Farm Shops & Farmers Markets

reference: www.discovernorthernireland.com/Ulster-Farmers-Markets-A1930Ulster Farmers’ Markets

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find local produce...

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01 Mulholland’s, Belfast, Co Antrim02 Michel’s Fruit & Veg, Belfast, Co Antrim03 Ballylagan Organic Farm Shop, Ballyclare, Co Antrim04 Chapman’s, Portadown, Co Armagh05 Homegrown, Newtownards, Co Down06 Churchtown Farm Organic Farm Shop, Strangford, Co Down07 McKee’s Farm Shop, Newtownards, Co Down08 Camphill Organic Farm Shop & Bakery, Holywood, Co Down09 Pheasant’s Hill Farm Shop, Downpatrick, Co Down10 Helen’s Bay Organic Farm, Helen’s Bay, Co Down11 Mill View Farm, Comber, Co Down12 Lurganconary Organic Farm, Kilkeel, Co Down13 Gillen’s Greengrocers, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh14 Culdrum Organic Farm, Aghadowey, Co Londonderry15 Moss Brook Farm Shoppe, Desertmartin, Co Londonderry16 Arkhill Farm Shop, Garvagh, Co Londonderry17 Keady Mountain Farm, Limavady, Co Londonderry18 Claggan Pick Your Own Fruit Farm, Limavady, Co Londonderry19 Cloughbane Farm Shop, Dungannon, Co Tyrone

20 City Food & Garden Market at St George’s Market, Belfast, every Saturday21 Causeway Speciality Market, Coleraine, Co Londonderry, every second Saturday of the month22 Tyrone Farmers Market, Co Tyrone, fi rst Saturday of every month23 Newry Dundalk Farmers Market, Co Down, last Saturday of every month24 Templepatrick Farmers Market at Colmans Garden Centre, last Sunday of every month25 Strabane Farmer’s Market, Co Tyrone, last Saturday of every month26 Limavady Country Market, every second Saturday of the month27 Walled City Market, fi rst Saturday of every month

There are several other markets and farm shops, the above are based on Discover Northern Ireland reference: www.discovernorthernireland.com/Ulster-Farmers-Markets-A1930Ulster Farmers’ Markets

find local produce...

who:Gareth is a busy Dad of 4, but fi nds time to nurture his bee hives. Just a stones throw away from his home in Ballintoy on a nearby farm, Gareth has several hives. The weather in Northern Ireland isn’t always ideal for beekeeping, but he enjoys the challenge. He’s also a member of the Mid-Antrim Beekeeper Society which has 70 members.

what: honey

where:17 18

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honey

who:Damian set up the Causeway Cheese Company with his wife Sue in 2001. Hand made using time honoured methods, the pure, natural and wholesome Causeway Cheese range is made in a small production unit in Loughgiel near Ballymena in County Antrim.

what: cheese

where:02 11

21 26

dairy

who:Hillstown Farm is a family-run farm shop near Ahoghill, in Co Antrim. They have been keeping beef cattle and pigs at Hillstown Farm for 4 generations and they now have sheep, chickens ducks and of course strawberry and shortcake their friendly Lamas to keep them busy!!

what: chicken

where:01 03

20 2401 03

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poultry

who:Frank & Linda at the Slemish Garden Market specialize in growing organic fruit and vegetables. They use a holistic approach called Biodynamic to cultivate their fruit & veg. Their old fashioned Rhubarb has a wonderful unique taste unlike any other. A bit like big Frank who is quite unique himself.

what: organic vegetables

where:01 03

22 25

veg

who:William of Local Jam & Chutney, grows all his own fruit and vegetables from his lovely garden based in Bangor. His jams and chutneys refl ect his personality bitter sweet! ;) His wife puts up with him banging pots and pans in the kitchen to wee hours of the night.

what: jam & chutney

where:01 03

20 24

jam

who:Lara works in her family business at the French Village located in Belfast. They hand craft a wide selection of specialised bakery products such as traditional Irish favourites soda and potato bread & cakes.

what: bread

where:

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bread

who:Larne Farmer John feeds his cattle homemade silage that helps with the quality of meat. His cattle can be seen grazing over the 300 acres of Larne’s hills along the coastline. He and his dedicated staff work very hard and when there’s an opportunity they stop for a yarn and a wee cup of tea.

what: beef

where:14 15

20 24

meat

who:Two brothers Jim & Colin Kane have been picking potatoes for over 20 years in the hills of Ballintoy. Two jolly fellows who love their spuds! Their potatoes are sold on to Wilson’s Potatoes and Mash Direct.

what: potatoes

where:14 15

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potatoes

who:Armagh Cider Company is owned by Philip and Helen of Ballinteggart House, outside Portadown. The Troughton family have been growing apples there for four generations since 1898. The fi rst cider from Armagh Cider Company was introduced to the market in January 2006.

what: cider

where:01 03

21 24

fruit

who:Gerard McNabb & Sons have been in the fi sh business for 25 years, but branched into Silverfi n Fish Merchants two years ago. Gerard has an excellent reputation for freshness and quality among both his regular customers and the hospitality industry. They all love the sea!

what: fi sh

where:01 12

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fi sh

w w w . l i t t l e g r e e n m a r k e t . c o . u k

Location of products is not accurate. All photographs, illustrations and written copy by Vicki McWhinney – Little Green Market TM

find local produce...