Milk’s the one for local farm

Thurles farmers Conor and Grainne Molony recevied a Highly Commended prize in the NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards 2013 for Best Protein.

In all 14, finalists from eight counties were commended at the awards, which were presented by GAA star Bernard Brogan and Tom Hayes Junior Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Dublin’s RDS.

“I am delighted to present these awards and congratulate all of the winners and finalists on being such excellent ambassadors for the dairy farming sector.

“Their commitment and dedication to producing milk to these high standards reinforces the message that Irish dairy produce is world class.

“These finalists will have a key role to play as we move towards an era of dairy expansion in Ireland and towards achieving the targets set in the Food Harvest 2020 strategy,” said Deputy Hayes.

Bernard Brogan said: “We have terrific dairy farmers here who consistently work hard to achieve and maintain high standards. It’s good to highlight dairy excellence through these national awards, which highlight the access Irish consumers have to fresh and nutritious milk and dairy products. Research is supporting a role for milk and dairy in relation to various aspects of sports nutrition. Milk and dairy can play an important role in the diet of an athlete, not only in helping address specific sports nutrition considerations; but also because you are consuming a food which provides a natural source of many nutrients, such as calcium.”