SOME of the best local food products have been showcased all week in the staff restaurant at Noble’s Hospital, to highlight the support the hospital gives to local food producers.
‘Manx Food Week’ demonstrates the ongoing use of local produce wherever possible by the hospital’s catering department which provides a staggering 225,000 meals each year in the restaurant, together with 750 meals daily for patients and 350 daily ‘meals on wheels’ all over the Island.
More than 1 million meals have been served in the restaurant since it opened in 2003.
On display in the staff restaurant this week have been a variety of Manx products from suppliers such as Greeba Mushrooms, the Apple Orphanage, Green Mann Spring Water, Robinson’s, Isle of Man Creameries, and Harrison and Garrett Meats.
Member for Health, Dudley Butt MLC said, “Noble’s Hospital catering staff work extremely hard to produce great tasting food from local produce, and I feel it is vitally important for Noble’s to continue to support and acknowledge local providers and farmers with events like this.”
As in previous years the event has been extended to the patients of the hospital as a way to raise awareness of Manx produce and how it is used within recipes in the patient menu system.
A special menu was produced which was given to patients with an explanation of what local products are used by the hospital. A picture of the Manx Flag was placed next to the description of the dish and the patients were given the opportunity to sample the local produce.
David Killip, Chief Executive, Department of Health said, “Food miles, sustainability and shopping local are topics of growing importance, not just on the Island, but globally.
“Manx Food Week allows us to highlight to patients and staff alike just how much food is sourced locally from Manx farmers and producers. This, of course, ensures that patients and staff enjoy fresh, nutritious, high quality, locally grown food and has the added benefits of supporting small, local business and the Island’s wider economy.”
Each year Manx Food Week raises funds for a selected charity, this year the staff decided to assist the Isle of Man Commonwealth Youth Games, with an appearance of Tosha (the Games mascot) on the Wednesday.
Throughout the week raffle tickets have been sold for a chance to win a variety of items donated by Manx producers. Agrimark kindly donated a ‘Smoothie Maker’ and a hand held blender, and Robinson’s donated a Wok full of ingredients.
The first prize for the raffle is from Kathy Irwin of Greeba Farms, who donated her living display of mushrooms, and Robinson’s and Isle of Man Creameries also donated their displays of produce.
Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, John Shimmin said, “I’d like to express my thanks to the catering team here at Noble’s for putting on such a wonderful event, now in its fourth year and still going strong.
“I’d also like to express my thanks to the many businesses which are exhibiting, not just for their time and effort this week, without which this event simply wouldn’t be possible; but for their year-round hard work and dedication to producing the wide-variety of increasingly world-renowned home grown food and drink that all of us can enjoy.”
Derek Peters, catering service manager at Noble’s Hospital, added, “Noble’s is a Manx hospital and we use this high profile event to show that the Department of Health is committed to buying and promoting Manx produce, it is also a useful exercise to show staff and patients the variety of Manx produce on offer.”
The organiser, Andy Pennington, provisions manager at Noble’s Hospital added “Manx Food Week first came to me a few years ago and I thought of it as a challenge, to be able to show the public and patients that Noble’s doesn’t import meat, dairy or vegetables; and that the hospital prepares all locally sourced produce on site.
“I also wanted to show that we have a very low carbon footprint with products being sourced within a thirty mile radius, highlighting our efforts towards local sustainability.”
Guests, including the Minister Mr Shimmin, were invited to take part in a ‘tasting session’ on Wednesday and during the week the catering staff offered a number of ideas to promote Manx produce including wearing Manx t-shirts, selling Manx mugs, bags, etc. as well as displaying nutrition information and statistics showing how much the hospital supports Manx producers.
The exhibitors for the week included Robinson’s Fruit and Vegetables, Harrison and Garrett Meats, The Apple Orphanage, Green Mann Spring Water, Isle of Man Creameries, Greeba Mushroom Farm and Ellerslie Farm.
