Sourcing local food ingredients cuts down on waste, survey finds

LOCAL food ingredients enhance satisfaction levels among customers, delivering “empty plates” and savings on waste, according to a Good Food Ireland membership survey.

This pro-local response from the Food, Agriculture and Hospitality survey will be discussed at the group’s annual awards ceremony and inaugural conference on Monday in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin.

Members said local produce can cost a little more, but superior quality delivers more repeat business. GFI member Brian Fallon, owner of Fallons Restaurant in Kilcullen, Co Kildare, said: “When we joined Good Food Ireland, they demanded we meet criteria in terms of sourcing local, fresh produce. By doing that we discovered that the cheapest is not always best. Taking the time to source locally pays major dividends in terms of quality of ingredients.