Digging your own potatoes and serving up “balls of flour’’ on the kitchen table, an hour later, is a special kind of experience that’s becoming all too rare in Ireland, with the one-time staple food being gradually forsaken in recent years, writes Donal Hickey. 

Some frothy coffee confections can have as many calories as a meal, but health experts say little can beat a fragrant, fresh cup of Joe, writes Helen O’Callaghan.

Police are treating an explosion at Manchester Arena as a terrorist attack, believed to have been carried out by a suicide bomber.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Having lit the fire for a taste revolution in Ireland, Cork start-up Rebel Chilli is now exporting fresh hot chilli sauces to both Dubai and the UK.

Brexit challenges facing food and drink exporters will be top of the agenda for Tara McCarthy when she takes up her new post as Bord Bia chief executive in January.

Tara McCarthy is to be appointed as the new chief executive of Bord Bia, it was announced today.

News Q&A: Bord Bia

Irish consumers are expected to buy 20,000 tonnes of the Queens variety of potatoes over the coming months, Bord Bia predicts.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Farmers need industry guidance on the best time to produce spring lamb, according to ICSA sheep chairman John Brooks.

Bord Bia and GIY (Grow It Yourself) have announced details of a nationwide competition for potato growers.

Consumer demand for quality beef in the Chinese market is growing, says Bord Bia.

Pouring money into unreformed public services delivering poor value and little accountability is futile, writes Gerard Howlin

I’M ABSOLUTELY thrilled to read about big plans to give the humble spud a makeover, a €1m boost to be precise. 

The country’s oldest food bank expects to break its own record this year in terms of the amount of food it dispenses, while doubling the number of community food initiatives due to unprecedented demand.

Would You Believe? The Tuam Babies, Sunday, RTÉ One.

The shocking revelation that the Germanwings co-pilot deliberately destroyed the plane, a €349,000 watch sale in Keane’s Jewellers, and one Cork pub having some fun with helium are all part of our lunchtime briefing on the latest and most read content on irishexaminer.com today.   

The potato continues to remain a favourite in Irish homes, with more than 96% of households purchasing potatoes this year.

Waist circumference is the most accurate obesity measure, Irish researchers have found.

Cork’s first food bank will open next year, with organising group Bia saying the initiative will provide access to tonnes of surplus food that otherwise would go to waste.

Up to 350 small food businesses will benefit from Food Academy Start, a new training programme launched by Bord Bia, SuperValu and the County Enterprise Boards.

Data showing drink and food exports rose 9% in the first six months of 2013 should be carefully analysed.

This company started out in 2009 developing e-procurement software, selling mainly in the Irish market. SourceDogg is now working on getting into as many markets as it can — as quickly as possible. Trish Dromey reports

Bord Bia is committed to developing an in-depth export strategy for the farmhouse and speciality cheese sector, building on sales soaring by 43% to €4m for the 12-month period ending Jul 2012.

Four Irish seafood companies have pooled their resources to set up Jade Ireland Seafood Ltd, a joint venture with an office based in Shanghai, China.

Enterprise Ireland’s Enda McDonnell says they can help you go global, writes John Daly.

Although the supply of stock to the factories has continued to increase, there is a slightly sharper edge to the trade this week.