Boyne Valley Flavour's Guide to Shopping Local Part 1
Shopping Local in the Boyne Valley Pt. 1
We all know the importance of shopping local and have seen the posts online or articles in the paper urging us to shop and support local businesses, and this year it's more important than ever. The Covid crisis has put many small Irish businesses under major pressure and now that we are in Level 5 once more many have had to close or reduce their services to allow for the ‘new normal’.
Local businesses are at the heart of our communities, they provide vital services and employment and they really need our help to stay going this year and we all know it's so much better to be handing over money to local businesses and not big online giants. So we have put together this small guide with a few tips on how to shop/support local businesses and we have included a guide to what our members are offering at the moment.
Dare we say it but the Festive season is just around the corner so you might even get a few gift ideas! We will be following up on the success of our Samhain Food Box with a Boyne Valley Flavour’s Christmas Food Box so keep an eye out on our social media.
Shop Online
This might seem like an obvious one but you might not know if some of your local businesses have moved online as many have only recently gone online so make sure to check with them to see if they have moved their offering online.
Click & Collect
Or Call & Collect is another service many businesses have started providing that is allowed within the Level 5 restrictions. Again like websites a lot of businesses have only recently started this service so please make sure to check!
Gift Cards & Vouchers
A brilliant way to support businesses in particular restaurants and hotels at the moment. If the business isn’t currently open check their website or social media to find out more.
Spread the Love
This is an easy and free one, if you are a social media user make sure to like and share posts from local businesses and spread the love!
Shop Local
Instead of doing one big supermarket shop if you can, try make it to your butcher, baker and grocer. You will find much fresher, better quality produce and get great advice on what's in season & tips on how to cook it.
Boyne Valley Flavour’s is proud to have Producers, Restaurants, Cafes, Hotels, Self Catering Accommodation, B&Bs & Food Experience Providers as members,all based in the beautiful Boyne Valley. Read on to see what our members are currently offering & hopefully you will be inspired to shop local.
Producers of the Boyne Valley
A Bit on the Side
Hilary is going to Revolutionize the way you think about Jelly with her selection of handmade, all natural Gourmet Savoury Jellies. Each jelly is a unique, novel combination of flavours infused with alcohol, herbs and spices! Hilary’s Red Jalapeño Jelly won Gold at the 2019 Blas na hÉIreann Awards.
Bee Wise
Bee Wise Honey is 100% natural, raw, lightly filtered (to remove wax particles, etc.) and sourced from all their own hives in Co. Meath. They sell seven different types of honey depending on the season & texture.
Bee Natural
Bee Natural produce and sell food wraps made from Local pure beeswax. Their product is an eco friendly alternative to cling film, tin foil and plastic bags. They also do vegan friendly alternatives to our beeswax wraps which are made using wax sourced from the natural Candelilla plant.
Dunany Flour
Dunany Organic Flour is grown, dried, milled and packaged in Dunany, Co Louth by the Workman Family. Their high standard, quality grain, produces a wholesome, nutty, coarse grained flour, which is great in traditional soda bread recipes. Their Spelt and Rye flours make tasty low gluten breads.
Martry Mill
Martry Mill is one of the few working watermills in Ireland with the earliest records dating back to 1641 and has been in the hands of the Tallon family since 1859. Following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather the mill is now run by James Tallon. He continues the traditional milling process to make their Stoneground Wholemeal Flour. Available in Supervalu.
Newgrange Gold
Newgrange Gold is a family business started in 2010 by John Rogers and is now managed by his son, Jack. The Rogers’ family farm looks over the Boyne river at Crewbawn. They produce Cold Pressed Virgin Rapeseed Oil, Chilli Garlic Infused Rapeseed Oil, Garden Herbs Infused Rapeseed Oil, Smokey Infused Rapeseed Oil and Camelina Wild Flax Oil
Oriel Sea Salt
Oriel Sea Salt, located in Port Oriel, Clogherhead, harvests a mineral sea salt with a taste profile that is full of intensity and depth. 100% Irish Natural Sea Salt, harvested through a sealed system to retain the taste and depth of flavour while also retaining all the other minerals making it a healthier option with less sodium.
Urban Indian
Urban Indian is a family run business, providing unique flavoursome Indian Snack Foods and Chutneys for all occasions in Ireland. They specialise in vegetarian Indian Snacks, ranging from Samosas, Cutlets, Onion Bhajis, Veggie Biscuits and many more exciting foods.
Ballymakenny Farm
Maria is known across Ireland for her colourful variety of Irish Speciality and Heritage Potatoes with the top chefs in the country using her products. She began growing purple potatoes in 2015 and now offers six varieties of potatoes and has also started to produce delicious purple sprouting broccoli.
Clarke’s Fresh Fruit
Situated near the village of Stamullen, Clarke’s is a family run business growing strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries, and producing a range of jams and smoothies from the fresh fruit. Pat Clarke has established a reputation for the production of quality fruit over the past fifty years.
Coole Farm Salad
We grow our Coole Farm salad leaves at our home farm just outside Ardee. The leaves are grown in harmony with nature. We do not use any artificial fertilisers or pesticides. This combined with the naturally fertile limestone soil, creates the perfect growing environment for our produce.
Drummond House
Garlic Peter and Maria Collier, produce heritage Irish Garlic on their a 100-acre farm in Co. Louth. They are the largest grower of garlic and scapes in Ireland with their product range including garlic gloves, garlic scapes, smoked and unsmoked elephant garlic and asparagus.
Finnegan’s Farm
Brothers Paul & Joe Finnegan are 5th generation farmers based in the heart of the Boyne Valley. Finnegan brothers bid to boost potato consumption by making the potato a more fashionable part of modern day meals and a healthy, convenient food for consumers on the go.
McCormack’s Farm
At McCormack Family Farms, growing is our craft. Producing Baby leaves and fresh herbs with pride to give you the tastiest healthy salads.
Meade Farm
Nestled in the heart of the fertile Boyne Valley, Meade’s passion for potatoes eventually extended to Irish vegetables and fruit. They now have been growing, packing and distributing premium quality potatoes, fruit, vegetables, salads and organics to retailers across Ireland for over 35 years.
Rock Farm Slane
Rock Farm Slane is a glamping, ecotourism and activity centre and organic farm on the Slane Castle estate stretching for 1.5km. They are certified by The Organic Trust under the trading name Conynghams and are proud to include beef, pork, egg laying poultry and horticulture under their organic licence which is available at their weekly Farmer’s Market each Thursday 3-6pm.
Boyne Pastures
Experienced farmer Des Crinion runs an organic farm in Slane. He not only produces high quality goats cheeses but also makes a range of sheep cheeses and his tasty nettle cheese is very popular. Available at Rock Farm Slane Weekly Markets.
Boyne Valley Cheese
Boyne Valley Farmhouse Cheese produces a range of cheeses using their own goat milk. Their main cheese is ‘Boyne Valley Blue’, a semi-hard blue goat’s cheese. They also produce a white goat’s cheese called ‘Boyne Valley Bán’ which won Best Irish Cheese in the 2018 British Cheese Awards.
Sheridan Cheesemongers
Sheridan’s Cheesemongers was founded in 1995. They opened a shop in Galway, with Irish farmhouse cheeses piled from floor to ceiling. These were quickly joined by their European cousins as well as a huge range of artisan foods including olive oils, cured meats and pasta sourced during their travels.
Silly Sids
Silly Sids creates homemade ice cream from their Holstein Friesian dairy herd. They are the first company in Ireland using fresh milk from their farm to produce rolled ice cream at markets and festivals. They are now shipping a range of premium ice cream in 750ml tubs.
Brogan’s Butchers
Brogan’s Butchers is a family owned butcher shop in the heart of Athboy. Established in 1908 and now in its fourth generation, they are currently Irish Small Butcher Shop of the Year and one of the few truly Farm to Fork Butchers in the country.
Dowling’s Orchard
Dowing’s Orchard Pork & Bacon is a family run farm in Julianstown Co. Meath who produce tasteful free-range pork and bacon products. Ann’s saddleback pigs are like part of the family, they enjoy roaming around the apple orchards which gives her products a delicious special flavour.
Hogan’s Farm
Hogan’s Farm is a family run turkey farm who offer a range of products all year round, and are best known for their award winning Free-Range Woodland Bronze Turkeys that are exclusively reared for Christmas. The Hogan family have been rearing and producing turkeys for over 55 years.
Killua Castle Foods
Killua Castle Foods, under stewardship of the Krause family, is farmed in a sustainable and responsible manner with a focus on red deer, rare breed cattle, sheep and goats. They are fully committed to a high quality standard that is traceable from farm to fork. They are best known for their delicious venison range of products.
The Smokin’ Butcher
Award-winning butchers based in Ashbourne, led by Butcher Hugh Maguire also known as “The Smokin’ Butcher”. Hugh is dedicated and passionate about local, fresh & innovative Irish produce. He is known for his award winning Smoked Black Puddings, European Champion sausages to Irish Dry Aged Steaks which are available for home delivery.
Boann Distillery
Boann Distillery produces a range of triple distilled Irish single malt and Irish pot still whiskey from three handmade bespoke copper pot stills. From milling to mashing, distilling, maturing and bottling, every elegant mouthful of Boann Single Malt and pot still whiskey and craft gin, is created at their unique family distillery.
Coole Swan
Coole Swan is an exquisite mix of full single-malt Irish whiskey, real white Belgian chocolate and fresh dairy cream. It hails from the rich pasture land of Co. Meath where Mary Sadlier and Philip Brady’s family business is run from a converted barn on their fourth-generation family farm.
Dan Kelly’s Cider
Dan Kelly’s Cider is made from apples harvested in Boyne Grove Fruit Farm, their own family farm in the Boyne Valley at Drogheda, owned by the family since 1962. They are one of only a few cider producers in Ireland to grow their own fruit. Their apples are blended to ensure the full fruit flavour comes through in their craft cider.
Listoke Gin
A craft gin distillery nestled in the heart of the Boyne Valley on the outskirts of Co. Louth. Their online shop stocks their full range of gin & sanitisers.
Slane Whiskey
Slane Irish Whiskey is a smooth spirit of natural character with untamed notes of oak and spice from a signature triple casked blend. From the family Conyngham of Slane Castle, the barrel-raising art of BrownForman, and the proud people of Slane Village, this is a whiskey for those living the stories that will be told for generations to come.
The Cider Mill
The Cider Mill is situated on an old Georgian farmhouse and orchards in Stackallan, Slane, where they produce the award Winning Cockagee Irish Cider. Available at the weekly Rock Farm Slane Market.
Kookee
Kookee’s products range from freshly baked cookies, frozen uncooked dough for restaurants and deli counters, and an easy to make dry mix so you can create your own cookies at home. They are passionate about supporting local producers and their ingredients are locally sourced, and are of the highest quality.
Merci Beaucoup
Jeremy & Alona are the team behind the delicious hand-made creations from Merci Beaucoup Cakes. They specialize in French patisseries, desserts, macarons and tarts and their attention to detail is award winning. Order online via their website.
What’s for Pudding
What’s For Pudding is based in the Boyne Valley at Kilmessan, County Meath. The Flaherty Family works hard to produce the very best dessert puddings with high quality ingredients and absolutely no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. Available in supermarkets nationwide.
Carlingford Oysters
Multi Award winnings Carlingford Oysters are grown in the pristine class A waters of Carlingford Lough. The oysters feed from the naturally occurring plankton and the unique mix of local minerals, which wash down from the mountain streams produce our oyster’s distinctive taste, texture and colour.
Lily’s Tea
Lily Chen is originally from the Fujian province, where she was reared on quality leaf tea. Over the years she has developed a strong passion and knowledge for quality tea served in the most natural way. Thanks to the accessibility to the best tea farms in China, Lily only selects the finest tea leaves for her customers.
MacNamee’s Tea
A small family business, which began in 1998, based in Dunleer who prepares specialty teas in the Artisan way. Their tea is carefully selected from the best tea gardens in the world and is then hand packed by their skilled team creating a range of quality specialty teas.
McEntee’s Tea
McEntee’s Tea is unmistakably Irish, rich in tradition with a strength and flavour consistent with their commitment to sourcing from only the world’s finest tea gardens. Aware of the growing desire for a better quality cup of tea and the increasing trend back to loose tea, they believe there should be a quality alternative to the big brands.
Studio Coffee Roasters
This husband and wife team, Alan and Louise, are specialised Award - winning boutique coffee roasters. They seek out the finest single origin speciality grade coffee and roast in small batches. The ethos of the company is very much directed by sustainability & ethical and organic sourcing and now offer a wide range of quality coffee.
Buddha Bakery
The Buddha Home Bakery is located in Slane.
A Breton chef living in Ireland for 22 years, Goulwen started the Buddha Home Bakery out of a passion for baking. He brings his knowledge as a pastry chef to create quality artisan products made with love and care.
Available at Rock Farm Farmer’s Market weekly.
Swainstown Farm
Swainstown Farm based in Kilmessan, Co. Meath has been farmed by the Preston family since the early 18th century. They currently grow a wide range of chemical-free fruit and vegetables and a small flock of 100% grass-fed lamb. Available for collection from their farm shop.
The Whole Hoggs
The Whole Hoggs keep rare breed free range pigs. They roam on 60 acres of native forestry and they use old traditional methods of curing, smoking using all of the pig. They aim to produce a free range product for their loyal customer base. They attend the Honest 2 Goodness Farmer's Market in Glasnevin every Saturday, 9.30am till 4pm.
The Wooded Pig
Ethically raised charcuterie, from the beautiful surroundings of Tara. Be sure to get in touch for market dates, recipes and anything else we can help with, despite being located just a few miles from modern towns and motorways.The Wooded Pig farm seems almost untouched by time. A tranquil delight, in keeping with the wonderful history of its ancient surroundings.
The Farmer’s Daughter
The Farmer's Daughter produces a range of gluten free, no additives or preservatives, 100% traceable grass fed Irish beef products. Following in the footsteps of 5 generations of farmers and butchers her recipes are homemade with 100% natural ingredients for you and your family to feel good about. Currently available in the frozen aisle of most supermarkets.
Shalvanstown Organic Farm
Shalvanstown Farm, based in Slane, Co. Meath, is both an organic and Bio-dynamic farm certified with Demeter UK. Shalvanstown Farm have recently launched a new Beef Box initiative, where you can order a full box of delicious organic beef.
Phoenix Delite
Phoenix Delite make gorgeous Luxury Handmade Belgian Chocolates and Truffles. Luxury Sugar Free Handmade Chocolates for Diabetics and people who want to maintain a healthy weight.
Nick's Fish
Nick's Fish is Ireland's leading family Fishmongers. Fresh Fish and seafood from daily around the country. Visit their retail store in Ashbourne or shop on their online shop.
Big Red Kitchen
Big Red Kitchen is a multi-award winning cottage industry business, producing a wide range of handmade jams, chutneys, sauces and preserves. All of their products are made in small batches, using local produce, wherever possible. In fact, lots of their produce is grown on the neighbouring fruit farm. Their entire range is free of artificial additives and preservatives.
Ariosa Coffee Roasting Company
Ariosa Coffee Roasters. Slow roasted coffee. Specialty coffees. At Ariosa, they only roast with speciality coffees, grown in ideal climates and prepared according to strict standards. Their coffees are roasted weekly to maximise freshness, which is one of the key ingredients to great coffee.
Kerrigan's Mushrooms
Nestled just outside the historical town of Kells, Co. Meath, Kerrigan’s Farm was established in 1981, as growers of quality mushrooms and still remains a family run farm to this day. At Kerrigans, they grow and pack all of their own mushrooms and their dedicated, passionate team work towards exceptional quality standards, in order to deliver best in class products.
Rafferty's Fine Foods
Rafferty's Fine Foods was established by Chef Declan Rafferty who decided to develop his own range of homemade chutneys, relishes, dressings, flavoured oils, patés and jams which he makes and serves as part of his restaurant menus.
Available from Supervalu
We hope we have given you some inspiration on how to support your local businesses. Make sure to check our Part 2 of our Shopping Local Guide!