Athlone based mushroom producers, Mary and Gerard Reilly of Reilly Mushrooms, have been shortlisted for Bord Bia’s Origin Green Farmer awards. The biennial awards recognise and reward the exceptional performance being achieved by members of its Sustainable Quality Assurance schemes for horticulture, beef and dairy.
Gerard and Mary Reilly are nominated in the horticulture category at the awards. Based in Walderstown, Athlone, Co Westmeath, Reilly Mushrooms Ltd. is a family business with four family members now involved in daily operations. Established in 1988 by Gerard and Mary, the farm currently employs upwards of 50 people.
Chief Executive of Bord Bia Tara McCarthy paid tribute to the achievements of Reilly Mushrooms, noting, “those chosen as finalists for these awards are already regarded by the industry as being among the very best. Their commitment to sustainable production through the Origin Green programme and willingness to have their achievements judged by a panel of experts shows their ambition to be the best and to make the Irish food and drink industry a world leader.
“These are the farmers Bord Bia will be looking to when we are demonstrating to food buyers the solid foundations on which the Irish food and drink industry has been built and why it is sustainable into the future.”
These schemes are pivotal to differentiating Irish food products in the global marketplace. Participating farms meet high standards around hygiene, farm safety, traceability, animal welfare, remedy use and commitment to their locality.
The overall category winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at The Heritage Hotel, Killenard, on Wednesday, December 12.
