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planorganic.com
Updated March 2007
Where to buy - and to eat, drink and enjoy, mostly in Ireland and the UK.  

Email me

Organic Box Schemes Please send me details of organic box schemes in Ireland. I get many requests for information, especially from Dublin. At the moment I only know of the following:

Absolutely Organic, based in Walkinstown, Dublin have a well-organised box scheme in operation serving the whole of Dublin. Tel: 01 4600467.

Galway "We are a family run business based on a 30-acre farm, 9 miles from Galway city. We run a organic box scheme. Customers can choose from vegetables, fruit, eggs and juices. We are very flexible in terms of delivery and people's individual likes and dislikes. We are fully certified by IOFGA. To contact us call 091-793768/087-9401709 or e-mail kenneth@greenearthorganics.ie."

Simply Organic an off-shoot of traditional fruit and vegetable wholesalers, Begley Bros. of Smithfield, are a Dublin-based company that has quite quickly become one of the leading wholesalers of organic produce in Ireland. They are the main suppliers of organic fresh produce to the country-wide SuperValu chain. Contact details - tel. 01 8735833, email; Greg@simplyorganic.ie  Visit their website, www.simplyorganic.ie  Since the beginning of 2004, they have had a box-scheme in operation. 

Tyrone "I am a newly opened Organic Wholefood store situated in Northern Ireland and I
currently run a veg box scheme in the Tyrone / Armagh regions.
Katie Horisk." The shop is at, 6 The Linen Green, Moygashel, Dungannon, Co Tyrone BT71 7HB. Tel. 028 8772 2006 and mobile 07884 183 674. www.downtoearthni.co.uk

The Cambridge Organic Food Co. is a certified organic box scheme that delivers produce from a group of 6 local organic farms and smallholdings to customers in the same area. Farms that supply the boxes include the Prospects Trust (a charity farm that is manned by adults with learning difficulties) and the organic kitchen garden at Audley End house (managed by the HDRA). To find out more about COFCO visit.. www.bigbarn.co.uk/cambridgeorganics 

Kildare Norman Kenny grows a wide range of organic vegetables and runs a box scheme in North Kildare, largely serving south-west Dublin. He also keeps about 300 organic hens. Tel. 0405 553337.

Dublin. Des Vallely of www.monkstownvillagemarket.com has a box-delivery service operating within the Dublin area. They email customers on Saturday and deliver their chosen box the following week. Contact 01 2841197 and mobiles 087 2349419/086 8097309. Email: info@monkstownvillagemarket.com

Absolutely Organic,
based in Walkinstown, Dublin have a well-organised box-scheme in operation serving the whole of Dublin. Customers are offered multiple choices of ingredients and prices. John Healy, a former globe-trotting IT worker, has built up a customer base of about 350 customers in the last couple of years. John sincerely believes in putting the customer first and gaining their trust. Tel: 01 4600467 and email; info@absolutelyorganic.ie.

Ireland

Excluding meat, over 90% of organic produce consumed in Ireland is imported, mostly fruit and vegetables, dry and processed goods.
Our organic speciality seems to be in meat particularly, beef and lamb; Ballinree and Ballybrado products are widely available as are the exceptional organic dairy products of Glenisk (see Products 
We are not as well served for either outlets or guides as in the UK, but  Maureen Tatlow’s book, Good Enough to Eat (Gill and Macmillan, 1998, IP 8.99) has a good Where to Buy chapter giving details, by city and county, of good food outlets including organic. The Bridgestone Irish Food Guide by John and Sally McKenna also includes details of organic outlets.
Buying locally produced, organic produce is the ideal and there are now several markets throughout the country where it can be bought regularly; Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Midleton on Saturday mornings are examples of the bigger ones.


June 2006. www.irelandmarkets.com has comprehensive and up-to-date lists of farmers' markets throughout the country. This great site, a while in coming, has largely superceded my humble efforts which were compiled when there was no other guide. But, for the present, I will leave my listings in place. I will at a future date invite reviews of markets and generally spruce up the page..

Markets - Dublin and rest of Leinster

Monkstown Village Market
Situated in the idyllic village of Monkstown in South County Dublin this market was started in 2005 by Des Vallely and partner. The 20+ stalls offer a wide range of
products including cheese, organic fruit, vegetables & herbs, juices,
breads, organic & free-range eggs, fresh fish, olives, organic meats,
locally-designed crafts and more. The market is open every Saturday from
10am to 4pm. Contact info@monkstownvillagemarket.com or Des at 01 2841197 and mobiles 087 2349419/086 8097309

Anglesea Road Village Market
Very new to the market, this one, also run by Des Vallely. It is opening on Thursday 13th July 2006. The market is sited in the grounds of St Mary's Church (junction of Anglesea and Simmonscourt Roads) and will open every Thursday, 11am - 7pm. A 'very talented' saxophone player will serenade the customers on market days. Contact 01 2841197 and mobiles 087 2349419/086 8097309

The Dublin Food Co-operative Society Ltd. has been around for a long time and runs a weekly market in Dublin that sells organic, health and fair-traded goods. It has a membership now of over a thousand who jointly own the co-op. They run a market in Pearse Street, Dublin every Saturday, 9.30 - 15.00. Non-members pay €2.00 to enter. See www.dublinfoodcoop.com or  www.club.ie/dfc and  www.euro-social-economy.org.uk/rr.htm  

Temple Bar, Dublin. Meeting House Square, Sat. 10 - 15.00, is an example of how it should be done with its characterful location and large number of stalls selling scrumptious goods. Denis Healy's extensive displays are particularly prominent and well-frequented. Contact 01 677 2255, email; info@templebar.ie 

Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Recently opened (2004) and run by Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council, they could be a model for the future. Here is the schedule; - Friday, Dalkey; Saturday, Marley Park/Rathfarmham and Sunday, Dun Laoghaire People's Park. All are open from 10am to 5pm on those days and are organised by Jackie Spillane, a co-ordinator employed by the county council. Jackie has a background in artiscan foods including a stint running her own jam business. Traders are treated like human beings by the council (unlike some!) and, startlingly, are supplied with matching umbrellas free of charge. It all looks very smart and colourful and the quality of the  produce is brillant with Ms Spillane accepting stalls on the basis of quality, with a preference for Irish and organic. 
Jackie O'Gorman of Terrygalss Organics, Tipperary is enthusiastic; " I think this is the ideal situation - markets managed and regulated by muncipial authorties using professionals with an interest in good food and quality, rather than it being the preserve of private operators who see markets as a quick way to make money, without any great interest in the quality or sustainability of what is on offer."

See www.irishfarmersmarkets.ie for some markets in the Dublin, Wicklow and Louth area.

Dun Laoghaire Farmers Market, Co. Dublin, near ferry terminal, Thursday, 10 - 17.00. Approximately 25 stalls. Tel. 0404 43885.

Docklands Market, Dublin  At the IFSC, Mayor Square, Wednesdays, 10.30 - 16.00.  Tel. 0404 43885.

Brook Lodge Organic Market, Macreddin Village, Co Wicklow, first Sunday of month. Contact 0402 36444. Email, brooklodge@macreddin.ie

Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford   New farmers' market (July 2004) every Saturday 9 am to 2 pm in Abbey Square. Contact Denis Shannon, email; alltheshannons@eircom.net 


Munster

Ennis Market, Co. Clare  Opening Friday 23rd July 2004, a new weekly farmers' market, consolidating previous efforts, will be held in the Upper Market area - opposite the Usual Place Bar from 8 am to 2 pm.
Contact Jason Horner, tel. 065 6827460. Rural Resource Worker, Michael Gleeson is the force behind the development of markets in Clare. There is one another one to start in Kilrush, and Killaloe and Ballyvaughan are being looked at. 

The Natural Home, Garden and Farm Centre, Old Church of Ireland, Miltown, Co Kerry, is getting terrific praise for its range of natural and organic goods and services on offer. They are open Tues - Saturday 2 - 5pm and host, in addition, a Farmers' Market on Saturdays, 10am - 2pm. Contact Mary Riordan, 066 9767869. They stock all Callinafercy Organic products including seeds. 

Clonmel
, Co.Tipperary. Peter Binder has a stall at Anglesea St. (beside More Miles) on Saturdays, 11 - 2pm. Peter and his partner grow a wide range of vegetables themselves but also sell the produce of others.

Cahir, Co. Tipperary Saturdays 9 - 13.00 beside The Craft Granary. Contact, Pat O'Brien 086 6482044

Bantry Co.Cork  The first Friday of the month is the traditional fair day in Bantry and traders of all persuasions attend. There is a good sprinkling of food stalls these days, with olives, cheeses, breads and vegetables well represented. Olga, from Kerry, is usually there with her famous organic Jersey cheeses, yogurts and butter and Martin O'Flynn* with vegetables and meat. The latter two are often there with their stalls on ordinary Fridays as well.
*
Organic lamb, pork and eggs can also be bought direct from Martin and Yvonne O'Flynn, Maugmnasilla, Bantry, Co.Cork. This energetic family, helped by their children, are also expert basket weavers, running courses and giving demonstrations as well as selling their wares from a display barn on the farm. They also wholesale a range of organic livestock feed. Martin is the contact for, West Cork Organic Farmers and Growers Group. Tel. 027 66111. 

Clonakilty, Co.Cork, Thursday at Old Market Hall, McCurtain St. Clonakilty is since October 2003 a Fair Trade town.

Inchigeelagh, Co.Cork, last Saturday of the month, 2pm, at Creedons Hotel.

The Farmers' Market, Midleton, Co.Cork  The Allen family of Ballymaloe were the instigators of this exclusively foodie market which takes place on Saturdays 9 - 13.30.
Contact Darina Allen 021 464 6785

Macroom, Co.Cork, the Square on Tuesdays, 10 - 14.00. 

Coal  Quay, Cork City, on Saturday mornings. Usual rubbish stalls of a conventional market but at the north end there are usually two or three organic fruit and vegetable stalls. See particularly, Caroline Robinson's popular stand. Caroline sells a range of produce from her own gardens and those of friends. She is not organic certified but I, and many others, trust her produce completely. Coal Quay, Cork City, Saturdays: usually sold out by lunch-time - you have been warned!

Skibbereen, West Cork has a farmers' market on Saturdays, 10 - 2 pm at the Fair Field. Organised by Jean Perry and friends. Jean can be contacted at glebegardens@eircom.net  

English Market in Cork. This open-stalled, covered, Victorian market-place, renowned for its wonderful fish stalls, also has many specialist food counters some of which sell organic produce.
The Garden
, is the second stall on the left as you enter the Market from Prince's Street. It has organic vegetables and herbs, mostly locally produced, and organic fruit as well as dried fruits and nuts. Owner Donal O'Callaghan: tel. 021 4272368 and email: donaloc@iol.ie 
On The Pig's Back
is one of the most enticing stalls in the English Market, with its racks of speciality bread and counters of home-made terrines and pates and gorgeous French and Irish cheeses, including organic goats' cheese. Some unusual bread supplied by Denis Ryan, formerly of the Arbutus Lodge Restaurant. Website in preparation. Prop. Isabelle Sheridan. Tel. 021 4270232. 
The Organic Shop, English Market, Cork is owned by grower Marc O'Mahoney, of Clonbuig, Kilbritten. Tel. 021 4279419, and  087 2680020. 
His shop or processing license, issued by IOFGA, has been revoked since January 2003.

Connaught

Galway Market by St Nicholas's church This long-established market used to be on Saturdays only but now, after a recent change of heart by Galway City Council, it is extended to Sundays, bank holidays and the ten days before Christmas. Sunday times are restricted to from 1pm - 6pm. Licenses have to be acquired from the Council and are restricted to 100 only.

Ulster (Donegal)

Donegal, Ramelton Country Market offers home-baking and organic produce from 11am on Fridays. Contact Deeny Roughan, 074 9188896. See www.donegalorganic.ie 


Other outlets, Munster area

Internationally known, Ballymaloe Cookery School, Shanagarry, Co Cork is owned by the Allen family. Darina Allen is one of Ireland's best known TV chefs and cook-book authors but is equally famous (or infamous?) for her anti-GM and pro-organic stance and is a much sought-after speaker on these subjects. Her archived weekly letters on the website are a mine of good information and comment. There are also many good products wearing the Ballymaloe or Darina Allen badge in Ireland's shops. www.ballymaloe-cookery-school.ie

The New Delight Cafe/Restaurant, Kenmare. Organic and Fair-Trade products. Email: newdelight@eircom.net.

The Heubachs, a German couple living in West Cork, grow everything naturally, and ethically, without being officially, organically certified. They offer a wide range of potted herbs (I recently bought a Moca, Soapwort, and a wild Comfrey plant, Symphytum Officinale) and flower arrangements from their stall at Macroom (Tuesdays am) and the Coal Quay in Cork City on Saturdays. Tel. 026 49216.

Organic lamb, pork and eggs can be bought direct from Martin and Yvonne O'Flynn, Maugmnasilla, Bantry, Co.Cork. This energetic family, helped by their children, are also expert basket weavers, running courses and giving demonstrations as well as selling their wares from a display barn on the farm. They also wholesale a range of organic livestock feed. Martin is the contact for, West Cork Organic Farmers and Growers Group. Tel. 027 66111. 

The English Market in Cork. This open-stalled, covered, Victorian market-place, renowned for its wonderful fish stalls, also has many specialist food counters some of which sell organic produce.

The Garden, is the second stall on the left as you enter the Market from Prince's Street. It has organic vegetables and herbs, mostly locally produced, and organic fruit as well as dried fruits and nuts. Owner Donal O'Callaghan: tel. 021 4272368 and email: donaloc@iol.ie  

On The Pig's Back is one of the most enticing stalls in the English Market, with its racks of speciality bread and counters of home-made terrines and pates and gorgeous French and Irish cheeses, including organic goats' cheese. Some unusual bread supplied by Denis Ryan, formerly of the Arbutus Lodge Restaurant. Website in preparation. Prop. Isabelle Sheridan. Tel. 021 4270232. 

Organico in Bantry, Co. Cork, stock health foods and natural remedies as well as some fresh organic produce. Started by the Dare family in 1992, they also sell Mary Paule's organic wines, a good range of cheeses and two years ago started the first in-house organic bakery in West Cork. I love their white yeast bread.
I was not impressed though with any of the organic wines I tried, and of course you were paying through the nose for them.
Contact Liz Ewing, shop manager, at tel. 027 51391. Email: dares@dol.ie .

The Big Green Company Ltd., Kinsale, Co. Cork have farm-pressed pure apple juice, organic cheeses, preserves and dried herbs. Tel. 021  4770878 

Lettercollum House, Timoleague, Co. Cork is a vegetarian restaurant with its own organic garden. www.lettercollum.ie and email; conmc@iol.ie. .

Natural Foods, Wholefoods and Bakery, 26, Paul Street, Cork, principally a health-food shop, established over 20 years ago, has selections of fresh organic fruit and vegetables and seriously delicious vegetarian baps and savoury pie slices. Staff very knowledgeable indeed. Owner, Wendy Byrne, tel. 027 427 7244.

Cafe Paradiso, 16, Lancaster Quay, Cork, is one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Ireland and often has organic ingredients. Sean Cotter, joint owner and head-chef, has recently published a recipe book. Tel 021 427 7939

Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry, Co. Cork, Ireland's most famous country restaurant. Prop. Myrtle Allen.  www.ballymaloe.com and email: bmaloe@iol.ie

Bantry Wholefoods, Bridewell Lane, Bantry. Tel. 027 52611 Email: simonorganic@hotmail.com

Cork City, Ireland, has a new sandwich/soup/coffee bar, Wildways, at 21, Princes Street, which is proving very popular - one customer we met says she is "addicted to their organic tomato soup". Although not exclusively organic (they can't afford to be, they tell us ) many other products, including sandwiches have at least some organic ingredients. Labeling is clear. www.wildways.net

Fields of Skibbereen, often singled out by food writers, is a SuperValu supermarket with an exceptional range and quality of food, including organic. Tel: 028 21400.

Our local SuperValu in Casletownberehaven, owned by Dermot and Norma Murphy, has been progressively increasing its range of organic items so that it now has a range as good as any other of the small-to-medium sized supermarkets I know of. They are also, despite the limits imposed by their group marketing regulations, very supportive of local producers. Tel. 027 70020.

I heard John Terry's supermarket in Allihies (a small village at the extreme end of our Beara Peninsula), being praised by Dublin visitors for unexpectedly having a selection of organic produce. 

Other outlets - Rest of Ireland

Café Fresh is a vegetarian restaurant on the top floor of the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre in Dublin (Blazing Saddles was there before). Owner Mary Farrell and her team aim "to bring new energy to vegetarian cuisine" in the capital. Some organic ingredients and products. Main course - €8.95. Open 'till 8 pm. Also have stand at the IFSC organic market - Mayor Square, Wednesday 11 - 15.00. Phone 01 6719669. See also  www.cafe-fresh.com 

The Bakery, Pudding Row, Temple Bar. This is a superb craft bakery with mouth-watering displays of fresh-on-the-premises-made breads and cakes and sandwiches. Jimmy White is the master baker/owner. As I had a train to catch I couldn't check on whether they had any organic items but frankly, as somebody in a windy movie once said, " I couldn't give a damn!". Their almond slice for example is to die for! Jimmy, you don't owe me lunch! Tel: 01 6729882. The Cows Lane organic market is practically outside the door. 

The Tattie Hoaker is an organic and health food store at Athlone Rd. Roscommon. The shop sells Irish organic chicken, smoked salmon and a range of organic dairy and non-dairy products. They are always pleased to hear from any organic producer who has a speciality product to sell. Contact Maureen Brosnan on (090) 6630492 or email tattiehoaker@eircom.net 

Connoisseur Organic Foods, Dublin was Ireland's first organic butcher. The Downey family business have won many awards for their meat products. One of their specialities is spiced and corned beef (I am planning to get hold of some for a special organic hamper I am preparing for a good friend). Contact John at 01 4909239 and johndowney@organicfoodsireland.com They also cater for dinner parties and can supply to anywhere in Ireland. 

O’Tooles Organic Butchers, Dublin, sell a full range of organic meats. Tel: 01 490 5457.

Tìr na nOg, Grattan St., Sligo, has been selling Irish organic vegetables for over 20 years. Tel. 071 62752. 

Dick Wellwood of Abbeyleix does a county-wide box delivery scheme. Tel. 0502 33392.

Haricot's Whole Food Restaurant, 11, O'Connell St., Waterford. Tel. 051 841299. 

Absolutely Organic, based in Walkinstown, Dublin have a well-organised box scheme in operation serving the whole of Dublin. Tel: 01 4600467.

Dish, in Dublin’s, Temple Bar, serve organic beef and lamb dishes.

Lovebites Organic Caterers, Wicklow. Email: JimDempsey@eircom.net.

Nude Ltd, 21,Suffolk Street, and Go Nude, 103 Leeson Streeet, Dublin, sell "Healthy Fast Food". They use organic ingredients "when available" and sell some pre-packed organic items. Co-owned by brother of U2's Bono. Trendy, attractive and obviously popular eatery but has been criticised for misleading advertising about its organic status.Tel 01 6725577.

Simple Simon, Natural Foods, Donegal town. Tel. 073 22687.

Tipperary Organic Ice Cream, is the name of this Clonmel-based venture owned and run by Paddy and Joyce O'Keefe. Their delicious range of flavours, includes Chocolate and Hazelnut, Banana and Cinnamon and Hazel Amaretto Macaroon (can't wait to try that one). The O'Keefes have their processing plant at Carrigeen, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. Tel. 00 353 52 81905 - local 052 81905, mobile: 086 8577079. Email: organicicecream@hotmail.com. Its quite shocking to hear though, that, despite the O'Keefes' best efforts and intentions to use local sources, no ingredients are sourced in Ireland!

Bavaria House, Ballinagh. Co. Cavan. Organic food and enviro-friendly house. Tel. 049 4337452. 

All Irish supermarkets now stock some organic products. Superquin publish a list on their website of over 300 items. www.superquinn.ie . 

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United Kingdom  

Farmers Markets 
www.farmersmarkets.net , www.farmersmarketseast.co.uk and others - search Google for full UK markets.

Other outlets in UK
As in Ireland, a large proportion (over 70%) of organic food consumed in the UK is imported and sold through supermarkets. This also raises questions about travel miles, cost and freshness. Therefore, locally grown, fresh organic produce from your district's farm-shops and Farmers’ Markets is the ideal way to acquire your needs. These will be well-known in your area but see also, National Association of Farmers’ Markets  website, www.farmersmarkets.net .Also www.farmers-markets.org 

But for other sources you need a guide and the most comprehensive is, The Organic Directory, co-publication of Clive Litchfield, Green Books 2000, and the Soil Association, £7.95. Contains over 1,100 listings including cafes, internet sites and B&Bs. Also online: www.organicdirectory.co.uk 

Helen Browning at Eastbrook Farm, Nr. Swindon runs one of the largest mixed-farming organic enterprises in Western Europe - 1,250 acres. I had the great experience of spending a few weeks there, some years back, helping to run the 2,500 outdoor pigs and the suckler unit. Her famous butcher shop in a neighbouring village has become the focus of a substantial mail order business that delivers delicious farm meat products throughout the UK. Since September, 2002 she has a dynamic new website - www.helenbrowningorganics.co.uk 

The Cambridge Organic Food Co. is a certified organic box scheme that delivers produce from a group of 6 local organic farms and smallholdings to customers in the same area. Farms that supply the boxes include the Prospects Trust (a charity farm that is manned by adults with learning difficulties) and the organic kitchen garden at Audley End house (managed by the HDRA) which will be featured on 'Gardeners World' in the near future. To find out more about COFCO visit.. www.bigbarn.co.uk/cambridgeorganics 

Freshfood Co. Ltd., Portobello Road, London, Soil Association Retailer of the Year, 2000, has the largest range of organic and wild-harvested food in the UK. Home-delivery throughout the UK and Ulster. Thoby Young, MD, tells us that they also, "have sales leads from the Republic". Email: thoby.young@freshfood.co.uk. www.freshfood.co.uk

Eco-Lab, London, is a new, 100% organic cafe, founded by Catherine Skene-Catling and Rohan Daft. Awaiting further details, 15th June.

Planet Organic Ltd. www.planetorganic.com. London, exclusively stock organic produce. They opened their second store recently.

Practically all supermarkets now carry ranges of organic food; some having hundreds of lines. 

Friends of the Earth have a league table of supermarkets rated on how much organic produce they stock, GM food etc. www.foe.co.uk . We should flatter them by copying this idea for Ireland.

Iceland, supermarkets declared a strategy in 2000 to stock a wide range of frozen organic food which they would sell at the same price as other produce, subsidising the extra costs to a level of £ 8 million per annum. They secured 40% of the world’s production of organic food to meet the requirements of their 750+ shops. However this radical direction did not last long following disastrous sales figures and Iceland were taken over and the organic promotion dropped. General business opinion seems to be that they tried to go too far, too fast and alienated their customers. Links

Pret a Manger (tr. Ready to Eat) are a chain of sandwich bars that claim "chemical and additive-free ingredients". Mac Donald’s, astonished the markets recently by buying up 30% of the company giving rise to the slightly premature headline, "Mac Organic"  www.pret.com  Repeated requests to them asking to clarify if they use organic or Fair-Trade products have not been answered so far.

Europe

I have seen the most wonderful markets throughout Europe particularly in France and Germany.The best has to be a Saturday market in France, in Die, Vallé de La Drome, Haute Provence. Beautiful siting in the mediaeval town square, great people, and the produce of the region is painfully delicious looking. So frustrating when you're Ryanairing about with limited luggage allowance).Drome has the highest proportion of organic farmers and enterprises in France. It is also home to the stunning organic "champagne", Clairette de Die. It's listed with other local organic wines on www.jaillance.com 

The Viktualienmarkt in Munich, with many permanent stalls, is a also a great pleasure in a beautiful city. But watch out for the religious organic cult, Lebe Gesund!, with their seductive, luscious displays and comely madchens. The male presence, the Geschaftfuhrer, usually wears a very tall conical, red-felt hat! (Apologies to my German visitors for not using the umlaut - can't find it on my keyboard


It surely must be unique that an automatic, coin-operated dispenser in a Munich hostel (4 U Hostel) has organic beer, exclusively! 
We PC- pickled ourselves on the machine's  four wonderful brews at a  stimulating Direct Democracy( www.nddie.org) conference in Dec 2000. 

I and a local Bavarian barrister, Berndt and daughters, discovered and tested 22 organic beers in the autumn of 2000. All in the interest of organic research, of course. This site was in genesis then.
The scoring was getting a little fuzzy towards the end but I will publish the results sometime, if ten just emailers and true ask me.
Strangely, in the land of superb beer, none of them were memorable - some secret chemical in the conventional stuff?
However, the worst were still better than the  Heineken or Carlsberg piss, passing for beer,  we get here in Ireland.
I tried to persuade some of the breweries to export some of their brands to our alcohol-awash but quality-beer-challenged rock, but, they were not interested. "How would we get our bottles back?", they asked. 
Someone has figured out the export market for quality beer, because Lidl, Ireland, stock a label, Bergadler Premium Pils which I and German friends think is super. It's brewed, as you would expect, according to the Reinheitsgebot.
And the good news is that it's great value - € 6.99 for 6 x 500ml bottles. Now, if we could only get the bottles back to Germany...
And by the way, whoever said organic alcohol doesn't give you a hangover?


USA and Canada

Find organic food, farmers markets, natural food stores, coops, organic farms, seeds, CSAs throughout the USA
at www.organicconsumers.org/purelink.html 

Also see www.greenpeople.org  for US listings

The Artichoke Trail - A Guide to Vegetarian Restaurants, Organic Food Stores and Farmers' Markets throughout the US, Jim Frost; Hunter Travel Guides, 2001, £10.95.

Guide to Farmer's Markets in the US - www.cafecreosote.com 

Canadian Organic Farmers Markets - www.inforganic.com 

Buy direct from the farmer online at www.myorganicgrocerystore.com 


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