UFU Christmas video pic

Vegetable and potato growers getting into the festive spirit 

Northern Ireland’s vegetable and potato growers have produced a short film to highlight the field to fork journey of their produce in the run up to Christmas.

The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) teamed up with the North Down Group and their growers to highlight the hard work that goes into harvesting vegetables for dinners this holiday season.

Although the video is “a bit of fun”, according to UFU deputy president Ivor Ferguson, “there is a serious message about how important it is to buy local and support local business”.

Ferguson added: “if shoppers and diners want the best for their dinner plates, they don’t need to go very far. Northern Ireland is a small place but when it comes to agriculture and food we do tend to punch above our weight.'

Sam Robinson, spokesperson for the North Down Group, said: “At this time of year, often our vegetables can be harvested from a field in the morning and on someone’s plate that evening. That’s another benefit of supporting local, a shopper or diner won’t get that kind of freshness from veg imported from elsewhere.”