A call has gone out to consumers to support local farmers by buying Irish reared turkeys this Christmas.
IFA Poultry chairman Nigel Renaghan said: “Buy an Irish turkey and be sure of what you’re getting for Christmas. Irish turkeys are reared to the highest possible welfare standards and are fully traceable back to farm.”
“By buying Irish you will be supporting the hard work put in year-round on family farms throughout the country to produce top quality, sustainable food; you’ll help to support your local economy and to sustain the 300,000 jobs connected to farming and food in Ireland.”
The IFA Poultry chairman thanked all retailers who are supporting Irish and providing their customers with an Irish reared turkey this Christmas.
Mr Renaghan urged consumers who want to buy Irish and to support Irish farmers to check origin labels or to challenge the butcher or retailer directly about the origin of their meat. He reminded consumers who wished to buy free range turkeys that they should ensure products are certified free range.
Irish consumers will consume 950,000 turkeys this festive season. Approximately 326,000 turkeys will be imported to Ireland for the Christmas market, supplying the wholesale and butcher markets.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.