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Minister Gildernew gets a taste of IFEX 2010

Tuesday, 23 March 2010

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA today officially opened IFEX 2010 at the King’s Hall.

Ireland’s international food, drink, hospitality and retail exhibition showcases some of the country’s biggest companies, brands, artisan producers and rising stars from the culinary world, as well as a comprehensive range of local and international products and services from across the food industry.

After opening the exhibition, Minister Gildernew praised the quality of local produce on show. The Minister said: “The agri-food industry in the north has a unique product to offer - wholesome, fully traceable, high quality food which meets the high expectations and demands of today’s consumers. IFEX is an important platform for local companies to get that message out there and I am proud of the role my Department plays in assisting them to be more competitive.”

The Minister visited the Food NI stand where she sampled local fayre provided by the members of the Ulster Pork and Bacon Forum and local potato processor Mash Direct. She spoke to other local producers exhibiting at the show, after donning chef whites to assist chef and restaurateur Sean Owens with a cookery demonstration using local produce. ChefSkill 2010, sponsored by the Department of Employment and Learning, is the premiere culinary competition in the north and takes place over the three days of the show.

Applauding the talent and commitment of chefs taking part who used the excellent local produce available to them, Minister Gildernew said: “This year my department is supporting the Chef of the Year 2010 competition. The ChefSkill programme adds a further culinary dimension to the impressive IFEX programme and is a celebration of the quality food ingredients produced here in the north and available to us all.”

Notes to editors:

  1. IFEX 2010 is being held at the King’s Hall, Belfast from 23 March 2010 – 25 March 2010.
  2. The DARD-administered, Regional Food Programme was established as part of the implementation of The Fit for Market Report, which was published by the Food Strategy Group in November 2004.
  3. The cookery demonstration involved the Minister and Sean Owens preparing a main course of pork cutlet.
  4. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office Tel: 028 9052 4619. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.