Wicklow Naturally launches website to showcase the county's finest producers

A new website which highlights Wicklow's food and drink producers has been launched by the new food and drink network, Wicklow Naturally.

wicklownaturally.ie tells the story of food and drink producers and promotes the businesses selling the county's produce.

The network, created following the publication of the Food and Beverage Strategy, which was launched at Killruddery Estate in April 2019, stands for sustainability, best practice, authenticity and demonstrates the pride people share in The Garden of Ireland for food and drink produced in Wicklow.

Wicklow Naturally is a partnership between the Local Enterprise Office Wicklow (LEO), Wicklow County Council and County Wicklow Partnership (CWP) and is being implemented through LEADER funding.

Cllr Irene Winters, Cathaoirleach Wicklow County Council, said: "The Wicklow Food and Beverage Strategy had its origins in the Local Economic and Community Plan. The need to support the county's food and beverage production, through brand development, promotion, marketing and food tourism was highlighted.

"With Covid-19 ongoing the need to support food and beverage production is even more crucial.

"Wicklow Naturally will support its members and we will be working alongside our colleagues in the Local Enterprise Office and County Wicklow Partnership to showcase the business supports available to people during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis and beyond.

"There are a lot of people continuing to work behind the scenes who are the driving force behind the implementation of the food and beverage strategy and we encourage food and drink producers to contact Wicklow Naturally, sign up as members, which currently involves no cost to businesses."

Pamela Walsh, of Wicklow Way Wines (Winery) in Newtownmountkennedy, is the chairperson of the steering committee implementing the food and beverage strategy.

Pamela said: "Wicklow Naturally is about identifying Wicklow food and drink, bringing people together, working together, supporting each other, thinking and acting sustainably and to tell the food and drink story of County Wicklow.

"The growers producing food and those in beverage production are doing great things and, with businesses being forced to close their doors while others do their best to diversify, now is the time for us to come together within our food and drink network and support each other. We have a fabulous food and drink scene in Wicklow, created by a talented and dedicated workforce, and Wicklow Naturally celebrates what we do here in The Garden of Ireland."

Fred Verdier, Manager of Wicklow Tourism, said: "There are some fantastic chefs and food and drink producers listed as members on wicklownaturally.ie. Combine these amazing people with our superb tourism businesses and we will be able to create fantastic new food and drink experiences for people visiting Wicklow when Wicklow reopens for business.

"Now is the perfect time to build on what we have, support those who are still working hard and use this time to plan exciting top class experiences while reaching out to new market segments."

Visit wicklownaturally.ie for further information.