‘Ban red tape from farmers’ markets’
Speaking during a visit to a new farmers market in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, he said planning and licensing by local authorities in some parts of the country have caused difficulties.
“It is now imperative that each local authority includes farmers’ markets when it is revising its development plans,” he said.
Mr Naughten said it is also important that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland takes a balanced and reasonable approach and doesn’t over-regulate the sale of products in these markets.
He said farmers’ markets are a vital tool for farmers to sell direct to the consumer.
This direct sales mechanism ensures that the consumer can buy a quality product, confident in the origin of the food without giving a margin to the middleman.
Mr Naughten said farmers’ markets must be promoted and encouraged if the rip-off of substantial mark-ups currently charged by the large supermarkets on basic foodstuffs is to end.
Consumers are prepared to pay a reasonable price for food products, provided these are safe and produced to a high standard.
This is what Irish farmers have traditionally offered Irish consumers.
“It is the role they should continue to fulfil in the future. Local markets provide the consumer with the opportunity to meet farmers face to face,” he said.
Stressing that the agricultural economy is the lifeblood of towns and villages the length and breadth of the country, he said the promotion of farmers’ markets is in the interests of farmers, consumers, and the wider business community.
