Green Party Minister for Horticulture, Ciarán Cuffe TD, today launched National Organic Week 2010. The week, which is co-ordinated by Bord Bia and funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, takes place this year from the 13-19 September. Now in its sixth year, the week-long campaign and promotional events aim to continue to raise consumer awareness of organic food and increase the consumption of locally produced organic food.

Ciarán Cuffe, Green Party TD for Dún Laoghaire and Minister for Horticulture, said at the launch:

“National Organic Week is a great opportunity to raise consumers’ awareness of organic food and increase the consumption of locally produced organic food. There are over 70 events nationwide, including organic farm walks, cookery demonstrations, picnics, complimentary in-store sampling and allotment tours. 

“In Dún Laoghaire, there will be in-store tastings and demonstrations, as well as a chance to meet the suppliers and growers of the organic produce, in Cavistons Food Emporium, Sandycove and the Organic Supermarket in Blackrock.

“Given the challenges posed by climate change and the increasingly limited availability of oil, we must make our food production systems more resilient and organic farming methods offer such a resilience.

“Organic week provides the ideal opportunity to get together with family and friends to cook and taste local in-season organic produce.”

For a full listing of National Organic Week events visit http://bit.ly/OrganicWk