Quality wins in milk supplier award

QUALITY is the gateway to winning and keeping consumer confidence, Glanbia chairman Michael Walsh declared in Kilkenny yesterday.

He was speaking at the presentation of Glanbia’s overall quality milk supplier award by Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey to Joseph and Mary McGrath and their son Seoirse, Moneylane, Arklow, Co Wicklow. Regional awards were also presented.

The McGraths, who farm a 160-cow herd, are liquid milk suppliers to Glanbia’s Ballytore plant for the Avonmore brand. The herd has an average yield of 1,500 gallons per cow.

The farm is compliant with all regulatory requirements and is quality assured under the Glanbia Farm Quality Assurance Scheme.

All the award winners produce quality milk and this is achieved on well-laid out farms with excellent environmental and pollution controls.

“The quality award winners are leaders in what is a time of considerable challenge and change for Irish dairy farmers and Glanbia is proud to be associated with these families,” Mr Walsh said.

Regional award winners were John and Francis Brennan, Knockbridge, Dundalk, Co Louth; Vincent and Emma Ward, Co Meath; Brendan and Garry Peake, Mountmellick, Co Laois; Thomas and Patricia Lawlor, Borris, Co Carlow; Donal and Yvonne Murphy, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford; Michael and Mary Phelan, Piltown, Co Kilkenny and Thomas and John Phelan, Carriganure, Kilmeaden, Co Waterford.