Added Value Organic Food Product Development

Development of a number of new added value organic food products to include test marketing, packaging and determiniation of all necessary technical and regulatory requirements to enable the project to commence production of developed products within 18 months. All raw materials will be locally sourced and organic. A new business entity owned and controlled by organic farmers will be establihed to run the business. St Angela's Food Centre Sligo will be employed to carry out the product development process. Management of the project will be carried out by a cross border management committe and the group will incorporate a limited company to carry out the project acitivites and subsequent business operations. The services of a project co-ordinator will be employed to manage the project for its duration.

Rossinver-Grass Root Organics’ is a brand new range of Irish organic speciality food that has been developed, test-marketed and launched nationally with the support of EU funding. Atlantic Organics evelopments Ltd is the company behind the cutting-edge new food range of organic porridge oats, organic tomato relish and regional organic sausages. The success of the company’s funded period has resulted in organic oats and relish being available in speciality stores nationwide, and organic regional sausages on sale at Farmers’ Markets across the North West from the Leitrim Organic Farmers’ Co-op Mobile Butcher. The EU funding received was split between two distinct projects that made up Atlantic Organics during its research and development phase; one focusing on Product evelopment and the other on Marketing and Development of the Organic Sector in general. As it became clear that the project had been successful and was within reach of commercial product distribution, a further award of INTERREG funding to the value of €72,497.25 enabled Atlantic Organics to make this a reality. Atlantic Organics is a unique organisation which is owned by organic farmers in the North West and based at The Organic Centre in Rossinver County Leitrim. It was set up to provide an outlet for local produce and raise the profile of Irish organic food production. The three leading organic organisations in the region are equal partners in the project: Leitrim Farmers’ Co-op, North West Organic and The Organic Centre. It is also supported by the Western Development Commission. Lucie Kennedy, Marketing and Communications Manager for Atlantic Organics commented: “We are delighted that we have been able to launch our Rossinver range of products commercially, thanks to EU funding. ICBAN has been so supportive as our business has developed into an entity of its own. Many organic farmers in the border region are benefiting from the publicity surrounding the ‘Rossinver-Grass Root Organics’ range, and we are playing our part in helping to increase understanding about what organic food means and why it is important for health, the environment and animal welfare.” Atlantic Organics was established to develop a range of organic products, and pass the benefits back to the local cross-border region. The brand name ‘Rossinver-Grass Root Organics’ comes from the townland of Rossinver in North Leitrim where Atlantic Organics is based. An important aim of Atlantic Organics is to support local organic producers, and each of its products has been produced with a focus on harnessing local artisan expertise and organic produce supply. You can find out more about the ‘Rossinver-Grass Root Organics’ range of products at www.rossinverorganics.com. Post funding, Atlantic Organics has continued to be managed by the directors of the organisations which comprise the company namely Leitrim Organic Farmers Coop, North West Organic and The Organic Centre. The company has developed the sales of its products through the “Rossinver” range in health food shops and delicatessens throughout the Island of Ireland. Simply Wild has been engaged to distribute the products into this channel. North West Organic has taken on the role of administrator relating to the products which compliments their own business. The directors of the company meet regularly to review progress and decide on strategies for the products. Atlantic Organics has engaged Siobhan Morris, the former Development Manager with the company, to carry out promotional and PR work on its behalf. The company is currently working on an expansionary plan that would see it taking its Porridge Oats products to the UK and gaining a stronger foothold in the home market. The products are now taking pride of place in Ireland’s first Organic Supermarket in Blackrock and also for sale at Wrights of Howth shop at Dublin Airport. The directors of the company also give time to carrying out in-store demonstrations and other promotional shows throughout the island. The Product range has been extended to 4 products with a 3 minute oats product being added to the Jumbo oats, and a relish with “extra chillies” accompanying the original Rossinver Relish. The company remain optimistic about the future for the products and are looking for possibilities to expand the range taking into account the supply base of produce available that exhibits the characteristics of being regional, seasonal and organically certified.