Bord Bia

We can taste it already, we can smell the meat roasting and the bread being baked. Every year, one of the best food offerings at the Ploughing is the Bord Bia Country Kitchen and this year, we don’t expect it to be any different.

Their menu features an array of Bord Bia quality-assured meat dishes, including sirloin roast beef, roast leg of lamb, honey roast ham – all freshly cooked and served with seasonal salad in a ciabatta roll.

For burger lovers, their prime 6oz Irish beef burger with cheddar cheese won’t let you down or start the day with a breakfast roll, which is served until 11am.

On top of that, Bord Bia will be showcasing the work being done overseas on behalf of Irish meat, livestock, and dairy producers and they will give visitors an insight as to how quality-assured beef, lamb and pigmeat are promoted in key export markets.

Ballymaloe Foods

Ballymaloe Foods always has a jam-packed stand at the Ploughing and to find it, all you have to do is follow those with red sauce around their mouth as this year, Ballymaloe Foods are looking forward to showcasing their Bolognese sauce.

For the first time, visitors will be treated to tastings of their Italian sauce as well as other goods in their popular pasta range.

This is just one of the ranges that will be on display.

There’s plenty to see with the Ballymaloe Foods team including their steak sauce with tarragon and Irish stout from Dungarvan Brewing Company in Co Waterford, Yasmin Hyde’s Irish beetroot, produced with a local grower in East Cork and everybody’s favourite relish from original to jalapeño.

The National Dairy Council

Go head over heels at the Ploughing this year with yoga sessions at the National Dairy Council (NDC) stand on the Tuesday and Wednesday morning, where yoga experts will take you through some easy stretches and moves to start the day off well.

The NDC will then have a milk bar van where people can refresh after the session with a delicious fruit smoothie.

As always, the NDC will showcase the best of Irish dairy produce from their co-ops with sampling throughout the three days.

Expect a full demo kitchen with seating for the three days with chef Brian McDermott, who will be cooking up some delicious dishes for the crowds. He will be complemented by visiting chefs, including Clodagh McKenna.

There will also be a number of healthcare experts and surgeons from Cappagh Hospital, who partnered with the NDC last year. The experts will be on hand to offer advice on bone health and avoiding fractures.

Along with everything else at this action packed stand, the NDC will showcase the 14 finalists for this year’s Quality Milk Awards with videos and photography from the contenders.

Joe’s Crisps

Potato crisps are getting a bit of a shake-up. Joe’s Farm Crisps not only use the humble spud in their range, they also use carrot, parsnip and beetroot for crisps that have a real crunch and a fantastic flavour.

Based in Killeagh, Co Cork, Joe Burns, along with his wife Sandra and neighbour Claire, grow their own vegetables for these crisps.

At the Ploughing, Joe’s Farm Crisps will be launching their new Mixed Potato Crisps range, made form purple, pink and white potatoes, with a sprinkle of Irish sea salt. Not only do they look really interesting, they are also gluten-free.

Stop in and sample these Irish crisps with a difference and enter their lucky bag competition for a two night stay in the five star Castlemartyr Resort, with breakfast and a five course evening meal in the Bell Tower Restaurant.

Clarke’s Fresh Fruit

There’ll be bursting berry goodness at Clarke’s Fresh Fruit stand as they bring an array of fresh fruit from their farm in Stamullen, Co Meath.

Expect to see delicious strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and Clarke’s premium jam range – made only with fruit from the farm.

On top of that, Clarke’s fresh fruit is a firm favourite with chef Neven Maguire who is demonstrating at the Irish Farmers Journal stand and while you’re waiting for the demo to begin, don’t be surprised to see a few strawberries passed around. There will also be recipe books designed by Neven in the Clarke’s stand.

Áine’s Chocolates

Now in their 15th year exhibiting at the National Ploughing Championships, the stand for Áine’s Chocolates is expected to be as popular as ever. If you haven’t already tasted this amazing chocolate made by hand in small batches from a village in Co Cavan, a call to stand 663 on block 3 row 32 is a must.

There are special offers of three large 100g bars for €6 and four small items for €5, with 25 different flavours to choose from in both dark and milk, including Seville orange, zesty lime, milk honeycomb and caramel deluxe.

Áine’s chocolates also has a range of no added sugar bars which are suitable for diabetics and all products are gluten-free. The company is launching its new 95% cocoa solid at the Ploughing, which recently won a gold star at The Great Taste Awards in the UK.

Clonakilty Food Co

You can’t beat an old fashioned fry-up and no one knows this better than Clonakilty Food Co. Start your day at the Ploughing with samples of Clonakilty black pudding, white pudding, sausages and rashers, just follow the sound of the sizzle to find them.

If you love the range, you are in for a special treat.

They have combined two of their best loved products – the traditional flavour of Clonakilty Ispíní mixed with the unmistakable texture and flavour of their famous Clonakilty black pudding – to make Clonakilty Black Pudding Sausages. Now that is something we want to taste.

They will be joined by special guest, TV3’s chef Joe Shannon, who will be showcasing new ways to “Cook with Clonakilty”, so pop in and sample some of the delectable dishes he’ll be cooking up each day.

Mash Direct

We’ve always loved the Mash Direct story. Sixth-generation farmers from Co Down take the bold move to innovate their produce.

Now Mash Direct is available throughout the country with their range of mash potatoes, colcannon, cauliflower cheese gratin, cabbage and creamy leek, to name a few. They are heading to the Ploughing for the first time ever on their branded double decker bus where their new products are going to be on offer.

We’re very excited about their beer battered chips as well as their new range of nourish bowls which includes Taste of China, Taste of Morocco and Taste of Italy. Don’t mind us, we’ll just be munching in the corner.

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Hungry? Why wait! See what's happening at the Ploughing 2017