This article is from page 31 of the 2007-10-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
WITH fruit and vegetables being flown halfway around the world to get to the table, east Clare people were pleasantly surprised last week- end to discover that some of the tasti- est produce is still grown just down the road.
In celebration of the home-grown apple, the Seed Savers organisation just outside Scariff played host to nu- merous activities for its Apple Day.
Visitors enjoyed guided tours of their heritage orchards contain- ing more than 200 distinct varieties
of apple. Staff also held tastings throughout the day, juicing some varieties and sharing tips growing apples and creating an orchard or- ganically.
Beekeeper Aoife Ni Giollacoda was also on hand to talk about our native black bee and she provided tastings of her delicious honey.
“Apples have been a feature of Irish life for at least the last three thousand years,’ a spokeswoman for Seedsavers said. “Apple orchards were a feature of most gardens in the past but with the development of commercial orchards, the tradition
of growing many varieties of apples has been lost. Realising the loss of many agricultural plants and fruit trees, the Seed Savers was set up by Anita Hayes in 1991 and with many volunteers they travelled the length and breath of the country locating old orchards to create the native Irish apple collection”.
Now the conservation organisation can offer varieties of apple which were thought to be extinct and peo- ple can buy and plant them in their ee NLC Oe
“Although climate in Ireland is per- fect for growing apples, many of the
apples for sale in your local super- market are the usual granny smiths or New Zealand Braeburns imported at atime of year when Irish apples are in season,” the Seedsavers spokes- woman said. “Locally produced foods provide a number of benefits both for the local community and for the environment as a whole. By mas- sively reducing “food miles’ between producer and consumer, green house gases and other emissions from transport are minimised. Locally produced food also benefits the local economy, providing employment and supporting family farms.”