This article is from page 40 of the 2008-09-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 40 JPG
TO celebrate National Organic Week, St. Tola’s Organic Farm will host a farm open day on September Key
National Organic Week will take place from September 15 to 21 and a host of events, including a tasting session at Wilde’s Organic Choco- late, will take place throughout County Clare to celebrate it.
The week, funded by the Depart- ment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and co-ordinated by Bord Bia, aims to continue to raise consumer awareness of organic food, how to
recognise it and where to buy it.
St Tola goat’s cheese has been made in Inagh since the early 1980’s. Originally made by Meg and Der- rick Gordon, the business was taken over by their neighbour Siobhan Ni Ghairbhith in 1999.
Since then, new premises have been built, the process has been brought up to the highest standards and in 2001, St. Tola became a registered organic producer with IOFGA, the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association.
Both the farm and the cheesemak- ing operation are inspected individu- ally, by IOFGA inspectors, twice a
year.
Although more expensive and la- bour intensive than conventional farming, organic farming promotes principles and methods which co-ex- ist with natural ecosystems to help protect and enhance the environ- ment.
The 65-acre organic farm (none of which is treated with any fertilisers) provides herb rich grass and hay for the goats.
They also receive a supplement of organic grains for the winter, the price of which is around three times that of conventional feed.
In 2007 St Tola’s won Overall Best
Product at the National Organic Awards and Overall Cheese Cham- pion at the Irish National Cheese Awards.
The farm has won a Gold Medal at the Great Taste Awards and further prizes are hoped with the results of the World Cheese Awards in Dublin and the British Cheese Awards in Wales announced in September.
Teresa Brophy, head of Home Mar- kets Bord Bia, commented, ““Nation- al Organic Week encourages people to buy locally produced food but it also provides a great opportunity for consumers to learn about the origins of their food.”