Producer Organisation Information Meeting

The meeting will be held in the Lecture Theatre at CAFRE, Greenmount Campus, Antrim on Tuesday 3 May at 6.30pm.

UFU in partnership with DARD have organised this event in order to educate the industry and develop understanding of the benefits provided by being part of a Producer Organisation (PO).

POs operate widely throughout the EU helping grower members to improve their position in the marketplace, reduce production costs, increase viability of individual members and achieve more sustainable supply chains. Highly regarded speakers for the event include: Secretary General of the Dutch Producers Association (DPA), Ad Klaassen; Elaine Shaw, CEO at Northway; Frank Donnelly, a local mushroom grower and member of Northway PO. Speakers will discuss their experiences of the management and operation of POs and the benefits to their sectors of working within a PO structure.

Sacha Workman, an Advisory Group Member on the Belfast Food Network, will also speak at this meeting. She will provide information on the ‘Feeding the City’ event scheduled to take place later this year in St George’s Market.

UFU president Barclay Bell said: “Being part of a Producer Organisation could afford many opportunities for fruit and vegetable growers locally and these opportunities afforded by operating as part of a Producer Organisation warrant further investigation. With a diverse line up of both local and international speakers it promises to be a highly educational and informative event.

“Presentations will be followed by a question and answer session. This interactive session will give you an opportunity to ask the panel about issues of particular importance to you.

“I would strongly encourage all vegetable, top fruit and soft fruit growers, packers and processors to attend this open information meeting to learn more about POs.”