"IrishFood" news and stories

• St. Patrick's Day is over, but Irish comfort food transcends the holiday.
• Speaking of the Irish, let's hear it for potatoes.
• Pig ears, anyone?...Anyone?
• Okay, then, how about chicken thighs? That's more like it.

Does your grocery bag include a freshly baked baguette and locally grown basil and apples? The trend to consume high-quality artisanal foods persists despite the increasing costs of basic foods worldwide. A recent article from the Irish Independent explains that Ireland is going local and organic. According to recent studies, almost half of Irish grocery shoppers have purchased an organic product in the last month. Annual sales in organic produce alone exceed 100 million pounds.

Just this month, there will be a series of events in Ireland promoting local and organic produce, meat, bread, and cheese. The first one begins this weekend in Dublin at Marks & Spencer where grocery shoppers will have the opportunity to meet the farmers producing local produce. The next is National Organic Week when there will be a series of events on farms. Next weekend is the Septemberfest Food and Drinks Fair. September is an important month for Irish produce and they're taking every opportunity to enjoy it.

According to this article, buying organic in Ireland seems to imply local. In the U.S., buying organic is not necessarily environmentally friendly, because it often means that products from another part of the country or globe are flown and/or driven to your food store. I would encourage many of us this month to do as the Irish do - explore the incredible diverse produce that's available locally. September is a great month for American produce too.