“The Savour Kilkenny Food Festival Young Producers Market was in it’s second year this year (2011), I decided to find someone to deliver a food safety awareness course for the 40 young producers. Cathrine Fitzgerald (SQS) came highly recommended by Kilkenny County Enterprise Board. I briefed her about this unique market, where young people aged 10 to 17 approx make produce at home to sell in a market environment.The produce they chose to make included Home bakes, Cup Cakes, Pizza Slices, Hot Soups, Savoury wraps, Homemade chocolates Pickles and Preserves. Some of the young producers were doing Home Economics in school and would have some awareness of food safety others were just enthusiastic cooks. So I asked Catherine(SQS) to create a special food safety awareness programme, taking into consideration the age of the producers and the diverse produce they were planning to make in their home kitchens.

Catherine delivered a very professional 11/2 hr talk to to the young producers. She began with
the responsibility the young producers had when making and supplying food to the public. She made them aware of food poisoning and its dangers to vulnerable people, stressing the the key points regarding cross-contamination, cleaning, chilling and cooking to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Catherine also raised awareness about ingredients that people may be allergic to and advised clear labeling of the produce they planned to make. She compiled a fun PowerPoint presentation to accompany her talk and pitched the the programme perfectly to suit all ages present. Her patience during the Q&A session was fantastic and each child left with a comprehensive hand out. A week later the 40 young producers sold their produce in a buzzing market environment. Who knows they may be the next generation food innovators!”

Lucy Smyth

Savour Kilkenny Food Market

Here are some comments from people who have sat SQS courses:

“Very relaxed atmosphere and felt you could ask questions”

Richard Talbot

“I found the course very good and well adapted to Childcare”

Elaine

“The tutor was very clear, approachable, pleasant and helpful and answered all questions”

M.Griffin

“I really learnt a lot during this course, Catherine made it very easy for the class to participate.”  

Francis Woods

“I found the course and Katherine excellent and extremely helpful”

Eilina Kuy