Mullingar company Moon Shine Dairy Farm has once again been recognised as one of the finest food producers in Ireland, picking up a coveted Irish Food Writers’ Guild Food Award for its Moon Shine Organic Milk.
Just five indigenous companies, including Moon Shine Dairy Farm, were recognised by the Irish Food Writers’ Guild Food Awards 2010 this week as achieving standards of excellence that contribute to Ireland’s international reputation for fine food and produce.
Moon Shine Dairy Farm is the family farm of Mary and Gerry Kelly, located at Lough Ennell, Mullingar. Paying tribute to the Mullingar pair at the awards ceremony, chairperson of the Irish Food Writers’ Guild, Orla Broderick, said; “In 1999 the couple who had always farmed gently, decided to convert to organic farming. They were certified organic in 2002. Experimentation with various breeds has led them to crossing the traditional but rare Irish Moiled with their mainly Ayrshire herd producing small hardy cows that, as Mary explains, ‘go easy on themselves, rarely get ill, and are ideally suited to organic farming’.
“Mary, already making soft cheese and yoghurt for the family, developed herb flavoured soft cheeses, yoghurts, and yoghurt drinks for sale at Mullingar Farmers’ Market. Several of these have won industry awards.
“Today’s award-winning product Moon Shine Organic Milk is a result of their passion for milk that is not de-natured and tastes real. It’s not homogenised and is pasteurised gently and slowly before cooling naturally; no additives are used and the carbon footprint from cow to food production unit is about ten yards. The land is all in grass and natural herbage; the cows are out from March to the end of October and even calve outside. In winter they eat haylage from the farm supplemented, if needed, by organic meal. The enterprise supports Gerry and Mary and a son and daughter,” explained Ms Broderick.
All of Moon Shine’s cheeses and yoghurt drinks are also Bridgestone Guide award winners, and have earned accolades at the UK’s Great Taste Awards. In addition, Moon Shine products have picked up awards in national competitions, the World Cheese Awards, and the Shop Expo awards.
Moonshine organic products are available at the Cheese Barn Farm Shop at Kelly’s Organic Farm, Lough Ennell, Mullingar; at Mullingar Farmers’ Market; from a number of local stores; and also in a selection of artisan food shops and hotels nationwide.
