Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the initiatives that have been put in place to encourage the establishment of farmers' markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10961/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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A Farmers Markets' Code of Good Practice has been drawn up by a group representative of stakeholders and chaired by my Department and followed a public consultation. The voluntary Code was launched by Minister Sargent at Bloom 2009. The Code signifies that Farmers Markets displaying the banner have undertaken to hold markets regularly; to source a substantial proportion, ideally 50%, of local produce from the county or neighbouring counties; to accommodate seasonal and local garden/allotment produce and to comply with food safety/labelling rules and criteria on good governance. Following assessment of applications by an evaluation group the Good Practice Banner was awarded to 34 markets by the end of 2009. Each of these markets was issued with a personalized banner, which they can use to advertise their achievement. A list of the successful markets is posted on the Bord Bia website www.bordbia.ie. A further invitation issued on 1 March to markets to apply for the Good Practice Banner as some markets had expressed an interest but were not ready to apply in 2009. The closing date for this, the third such call, is 31 March 2010.