These small producers – who make up about 500 of the 125,000 farmers in Ireland – argue that there is a broken relationship between food producers and consumers. The buying power of supermarkets – and the criteria they use in choosing fresh local produce – sometimes makes it impossible for small producers to make enough money to survive. The backdrop to this movement of local food producers is increasing evidence that chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers are impacted by nutrient-poor diets. “We brought together direct organic producers of meat and dairy in the Urban Co-op in Limerick. “It’s about rebuilding relationships and reconnecting land, food and people,” says Thomas O’Connor, from Manna Organic Farm in Co Kerry.

Source: The Irish Times January 01, 2026 16:46 UTC