Bord Bia’s Bloom garden festival in Dublin has once again drawn in over 100,000 visitors this year. The festival is a vital platform for food, drink, and horticulture producers from all over Ireland to showcase their products. Jim O’Toole, the CEO of Bord Bia, has expressed his satisfaction with the event’s success, which lasted for five days over the June Bank Holiday weekend. O’Toole attributed part of the success of the event to the warm and sunny weather. He also highlighted how Bloom provides a significant commercial opportunity for Bord Bia’s client companies. Over 100 food and drink producers, garden designers, nurseries, and horticulture businesses were present at the event, showcasing their work, products, and services. The event has become an integral part of the summer calendar for consumers and businesses alike, and Bord Bia is proud of its success.
This year’s festival had several key themes, including improving air quality, tackling food waste, and highlighting the benefits of outdoor play for children. O’Toole noted that although Bloom was created to offer an engaging showcase for Irish horticulture, food, and drink, it has also evolved into a unique festival experience. Nature and sustainable living are at the heart of the event. The festival had 22 show gardens and feature gardens of various sizes, with Oliver and Liat Schurmann from Mount Venus Nursery winning the gold medal award for the best large garden for their imaginative woodland garden for children under five. Nicola Haines won the best medium garden award for the Citroën Power of One garden, while Kathryn Feeley won the best small garden award for the Forest Balcony.
Teagasc was one of the 760 exhibitors who participated in Bloom this year. Dermot Callaghan, head of Teagasc Horticulture Development Department, stated that the festival provided an opportunity to showcase their work. The horticulture sector’s importance in terms of fruit, vegetable, and plant production has never been more in focus. Teagasc’s theme, “Planting Knowledge, Cultivating growth,” encapsulates the range of research, advisory, and education services that it provides related to horticulture and the wider crop and plant-based sectors.
Bloom is an important event for the Irish food industry, providing a platform for local producers to showcase their products to a broad audience. The festival is also significant for the country’s horticulture sector, which is vital for fruit, vegetable, and plant production. The event is an opportunity for Irish businesses to network and build relationships with other industry professionals. The festival’s success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the organizers, exhibitors, and volunteers who make it happen every year.
Bloom’s focus on sustainability and the natural world is a reflection of Ireland’s commitment to protecting the environment and promoting sustainable living. The festival highlights the benefits of outdoor play for children, encouraging them to connect with nature and appreciate the world around them. Bloom’s emphasis on reducing food waste is also an important message, as it highlights the need for more sustainable food production and consumption practices.
In conclusion, Bloom is a unique festival that showcases the best of Irish horticulture, food, and drink. The event provides a vital platform for local producers to showcase their products and build relationships with other industry professionals. The festival’s focus on sustainability and the natural world is a reflection of Ireland’s commitment to protecting the environment and promoting sustainable living. Bloom’s success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in making it happen every year.
