On Thursday at the Balmoral show, local producers Adrian McGowan (Millbank Farm), Roy Lyttle (Roy Lyttle Ltd), Mark McKee (Fresh Fields) and Shane Donnelly (Donnelly Horticulture), launched Parful Produce, a new Veg NI initiative. The aim of which is to promote the high-quality vegetables available in Northern Ireland (NI) and to encourage consumption.
In a recent report by the Food Foundation, findings revealed that NI has the lowest consumption rate of fruit and veg across all the devolved administrations. A more recent Henry Dimbleby Food Strategy report also unveiled that ‘the UK now has a once in a lifetime opportunity to reshape the food system, conveying clearly we need to change our national diet as a matter of urgency’.
In response to the report findings and with the support of the DAERA Agri-Food Cooperation Scheme, the growers have developed Parful Produce and are actively inviting government, vegetable growers and all others in the supply chain to collaborate to help NI diets become much healthier.
Throughout the event, the four vegetable farmers showcased quality vegetables and shared their ambition to cultivate a vibrant sustainable horticulture industry that helps consumers, growers, communities and the environment to thrive.
Adrian McGowan said, “We have the knowledge, experience and professional credentials to cultivate a vibrant, and bright future, but our plan requires collective responsibility with co-ordinated meaningful resources for success. “
Roy Lyttle said, “We were delighted to be able to launch Parful Produce at the Balmoral Show, it is a great initiative which highlights the fantastic, high-quality produce we have here on our own doorstep. It’s a great promotion of local, healthy food grown in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way and we hope it encourages consumers to consume more fruit and veg in their diets.”
