Belfast Telegraph | February 7 2017
6 | NI YEAR of FOOD & DRINK Awards
✲BestNILocalMarket sponsored by Belfast Telegraph
WINNER: Comber Farmers’ Market, Comber Regeneration Community Partnership After a surge in the number of food producers in the Comber area, the Comber Farmers’ Market has been the ideal platform for farmers and producers to showcase their products and for visitors to the market to experience and taste the variety and quality of food from the area. Partnerships with local businesses to provide new opportunities, its social impact to ensure inclusion and a destination for all ages, not to mention the funds the market has raised for the local church, has made the Comber Farmers’ Market a success. Judge said: “Comber Farmers’ Market went from one potato named locally to becoming a food hub, attracting business and consumers by developing its identity as a food destination. Visitors now come monthly for specific foods on offer.”
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Naturally North Coast & Glens This collective market takes what is great about the North Coast & Glens and beyond, and brings it to the masses. The touring artisan market is a collaborative venture made up of growers, food producers, artists, designers and crafters, telling the story of their area through 45 different markets in 2016, which celebrated the year of food and drink’s monthly themes from brewing and distilling to legacy and learning.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Inns Market, The Inns Newtownbreda, produced by Babble The Inns complex is the hub of Newtownbreda, and in 2014, the landlords established The Inns Market which aims to tell the story of Northern Ireland’s artisanal producers to locals, whilst bringing added custom to the area. The collaborative approach has ensured the success of the market, which, in 2016 welcomed thousands of visitors thanks to its enhanced activity, further partnering with the local schools, churches, retailers, councils and organisations to bring the best market experience to the area.
COMBER FARMERS’ MARKET MADE THE AREA A PLACE TO VISIT FOR ALL AGES OF PEOPLE Sarah Travers, host of the NI Year of Food & Drink Awards, and Jackie Reid from the Belfast Telegraph (second left), present (l to r) Roy Murray, Alderman Deborah Girvan, Mayor Ards and North Down, Kirsty Atkinson, and Mike Moore with Comber Regeneration Community Partnership’s award for Best NI Local Market for Comber Farmers’ Market
Shauna McFall and Caroline Redmond accept Naturally North Coast & Glens’ certificate after it was highly commended in the Best NI Local Market category
The list of finalists ✲ Naturally North Coast & Glens ✲ Campus Food Markets, QUB ✲ St. George’s Market, Belfast, Belfast City Council
✲ Inns Market, Newtownbreda ✲ Causeway Speciality Market Coleraine, Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council ✲ Comber Farmers’ Market, Comber Regeneration Community Partnership
Inns Market in Newtownbreda was also highly commended in the Best NI Local Market category