The new series 'Jimmy Doherty's Farming Heroes' starts on Tuesday 15th July on BBC2 at 9pm.

The Northern Ireland episode will be shown on 5th August, Jimmy spent a day with us here at Mash Direct looking the life of the humble potato – don’t miss it!

The Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association welcome first woman elected to Board Of Directors

The Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association are pleased to welcome the first woman elected to their Board of Directors.

Mash Direct co-director Tracy Hamilton was invited to join the NIFDA Board, which provides services to enhance, promote, inform, educate and develop member businesses within the food and drink industry.

Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association Chairman Richard Moore welcoming Tracy Hamilton of Mash Direct to the Board of Directors

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UFU Schools' Competition sponsored by Musgrave Retail Partners Eamon Taggart (Fresh Food Controller, Musgrave Retail Partners) with Kenneth Sharkey (President Ulster Farmers' Union) and Martin Hamilton (Mash Direct) launch the Ulster Farmers' Union Schools' Competition sponsored by Musgrave with the help of children from Ballykeigle Primary School, Comber.

Mash direct wins “The Taste of Ulster Service Sector Award” Northern Ireland Food and Drink Awards.

Local producers and manufacturers gathered for the biennial event to celebrate best local produce, suppliers and outlets in the food and drink industry.

We were delighted to receive this award at the gala ceremony, it is a tremendous achievement for all involved at Mash Direct.

Martin & Tracy are congratulated by Ian Murphy of Invest NI.

BBC's Farmer of the Year

Martin and Tracy travelled to Birmingham for the Food and Farming Awards. What a marvellous achievement for Martin to be the first ever finalist from Northern Ireland for the BBC’s Farmer of the Year. During the evening they rubbed shoulders with the great and good involved in the food and catering industry. We think Martin will be cooking Christmas Dinner this year, we have the proof…

Rick Stein giving Martin a few culinary tips!

The finalists for UK farmer of the year

Minister for Agriculture ~ Michelle Gildernew visits Mash Direct. Monday 5 November

From Pigs to Potatoes for “Jimmy’s Farm” ~
Sunday 21 October
The early morning dew lifted in the warm autumn sunshine – a perfect day for another special visitor. We were delighted to welcome Jimmy Doherty from the much acclaimed BBC series “Jimmy’s Farm.” Jimmy was keen to see how Mash Direct is bringing a new dimension to the humble potato. After pulling on his wellies Jimmy seemed very at home aboard the potato harvester and was delighted to lend a hand for a couple of hours out in the field. The freshly dug potatoes were proudly delivered to the factory wash bay and after swapping wellies for white coat and hair net Jimmy got on with the job and was keen follow the process through the factory. No day would be complete without a tasting of our Mash Direct award winning products which seemed to go down very well with the production team. We look forward to the spring time when the new series entitled “Jimmy’s Farming Heroes” will be broadcast across the U.K.

Mash Direct wins Great Taste Awards

We have been presented with the much desired
Gold One Star Great Taste Awards for five of our products:

Mashed Potato Champ Carrot & Parsnip Mashed Turnip Red Cabbage and Beetroot

Regarded as the industry Oscars, The Guild of Fine Food’s annual Great Taste Awards are the UK’s largest independent evaluation of fine food and drink. Each year, almost 4,500 foods are blind tasted by up to three separate teams of experts before the awards are made. The great taste logo assures consumers of genuine, proven fine food with excellence in taste, texture and flavour.

Taste of Britain 2007

The Taste of Britain Awards are run by the Daily Telegraph in association with Sainsbury’s. The aim is to celebrate the Best of British Food and Drink and to honour and support those who grow and make it.

“The consensus among the judging panel was that this year’s entrants were even more impressive – a remarkable achievement considering what a rotten hand many farmers have been dealt during 2007. Entrants showed outstanding enterprise and invention. Just as importantly, they also remained faithful to great British traditions. It all goes to prove that the quality and range of food produced in the UK continues to be truly outstanding. “

“British cuisine has seen a remarkable renaissance during the past few years – and our local ingredients play a huge role in making it absolutely delicious.”

We were delighted that our Champ has been shortlisted from 200 products entered for the Best UK Food category.

Martin chats to Gillian Reynolds Daily Telegraph Columnist & James Laws
Sainsbury's at the Awards Ceremony.

The Bridgestone Irish Food Guide

The Bridgestone Guide is a directory of sources for lovers of good food and travel by John and Sally McKenna. Here’s what they had to say about us (Click here)