Farmers’ markers are not the answer

MINISTER Trevor Sargent’s local food policies are so last century.

The minster’s focus on farmers’ markets is passé (August 2). Yuppie-filled cars going to such markets on the weekend in search for a bag of supposed organic/local fresh veggies in effort to appease some form of media induced eco-guilt is not sustainable.

If Irish citizens want to take buying local food seriously a form of community supported agriculture (CSA) is needed. CSA is where local people pay a local farmer up front for product.

The farmer then commits to supply local seasonal product to those involved.

In doing so, both consumer and farmer share the rewards and risks of growing local food.

Consumers can even visit the farm they have invested in to harvest their own food directly, often with their families.

This allows consumers (and their children) to really appreciate and learn the “planning, care and work that goes to produce local produce”.

It’s something that a yummy mummy-filled market in a parking lot in an urban setting can never provide.

Shane Morris

Genetics & Biotechnology Lab

Department of Biochemistry

University College Cork