What does buying local mean? #BuyLocalBuyIrish

This Christmas, Agri Aware is celebrating Irish Farmers and small businesses across the country, by expressing the many benefits of supporting local businesses and buying seasonal products for their festive feasts. 
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The "What does buying Local mean?" campaign aims to raise awareness among consumers about the importance of buying local and supporting Irish farmers and food producers this Christmas.

By supporting these businesses, you are not only supporting farmers, but you are supporting Irish people, communities, jobs, businesses, the wider circular economy of Ireland.
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 Buying local and buying Irish means supporting the farmers of Ireland, who work tirelessly to produce food for both the 4.8 million people living in Ireland and 50 million people across the globe.
 
Buying local and buying Irish means supporting those who have continued a tradition and practice that urban dwellers are now so disconnected to in recent years. They are the people behind the well-known brands and products found in our shelves, whom we take for granted every day.
 
Money that is spent locally is put back into the communities and wider economies of Ireland, harnessing the magic of the many small towns and villages that make our Irish countryside so unique and homely.

This Christmas, Agri Aware encourage you to get behind Irish farmers, help support rural villages and towns across the country to survive and thrive through buying local and Irish.
 
We reached out to our patrons for some help in spreading the Christmas cheer on just how good, local and Irish food is! On each day of December, we will be hosting a daily video across our social media channels, expressing what buying local and Irish means to the many patron members of Agri Aware this winter.
 
Why not get involved, like, share and comment on our videos and use the #BuyLocalBuyIrish to be in with a chance to win a family pass to Dublin zoo! Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @agriaware 

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Dec 1st  - What does buying local/Irish mean?
Joe Healy, President of The Irish Farmers Association.

Dec 2nd - What does buying local/Irish mean?
Margaret Farrelly, Cavan Poultry farmer and Managing Director of Margaret's Free-Range Eggs.

Dec 3rd  - What does buying local/Irish mean?
​Lorcan McMahon, young free-range turkey farmer from North County Dublin. 

Dec 4th ​ - What does buying local/Irish mean?
Professor Marijke Beltman, Vet and previous Agri Aware #manyhatsoneCAP campaign ambassador.

Dec 5th - What does buying local/Irish mean?
Charles Smith, Certified Angus Beef, ABP and Kepak’s buying local message. #BuyLocalBuyIrish

Dec 6th - What does buying local/Irish mean?
 Anna May McHugh, National Ploughing Association Managing Director buying local message. #BuyLocalBuyIrish

Dec 7th - What does buying local/Irish mean?
Shane McAuliffe, Truly Irish pig farmer in Co. Kerry. #BuyLocalBuyIrish 

Dec 8th - What does buying local/Irish mean?
Mogue O’Neill from O’Neill’s Dry Cure Bacon in Enniscorthy Co. Wexford. #BuyLocalBuyIrish

Dec 9th - What does buying local/Irish mean?
Maxine Hyde, General Manager Ballymaloe Foods in Co. Cork #BuyLocalBuyIrish

 Dec 11th - What does buying local/Irish mean?
Mairead Lavery, Irish Farmers Journal Irish Country Living and Irish Country Magazine writer #BuyLocalBuyIrish

Dec 12th - What does buying local/Irish mean? 
Edward Hayden, TV chef, author, culinary lecturer and Kilkenny entrepreneur #BuyLocalBuyIrish

​Dec 13th - What does buying local/Irish mean?
Karol Kissane, dairy farmer and Nuffield Scholar dropped into local Asdee National School pupils in Co. Kerry for their #BuyLocalBuyIrish message.

Dec 14th - What does buying local/Irish mean?
Thomas Duffy, Macra na Feirme President and Co. Cavan Dairy Farmer #BuyLocalBuyIrish ​

Dec 15th - What does buying local/Irish mean?
​John Gormley, Brussels sprout grower in North Co. Dublin #BuyLocalBuyIrish

Dec 16th - What does buying local/Irish mean? 
Thomas Murphy, Country Crest Farming Manager

Dec 16th - What does buying local/Irish mean? 
Alan Jagoe, Agri Aware Chairman and dairy farmer in Co. Cork.