As it turns out, women make up only one-fifth of business owners in Ireland. And while over half of men in Ireland think they have the necessary skills to start a business, only 38% of women think the same of themselves. The takeaway? It’s on all of us to build our women up. We’re doing that at Organico by spotlighting just a few of our favourite Irish women producers. Because we wouldn’t want to even fathom Ireland’s food scene without these amazing ladies…    

Mella McAuley of Mella’s Fudge

Mella’s a Bantry girl who’s been making fudge for nearly 4 decades. 

She got her start in the 80s, standing at her mother’s side, the two of them perfecting a recipe to produce the ideal crumbly texture and sweet/salty balance.

Now, Mella’s Fudge is one of our go-to treats whenever we want something special and oh-so-satisfying.   

As it happens, Mella’s even more into food than we are. Hannah found this out when she took a family holiday to La Gomera, only to find Mella and her partner were staying in the same apartments. 

Mella had all the tips on the best places to eat in the area (shared over relaxing sundowners, of course). Making the holiday much more memorable.  

Sharon Greene of Wild Irish Foragers & Preservers

Over 10 years ago, Sharon and Gordon were out picking blackberries when their daughter pointed to a rosehip and asked what it was. 

They were shocked. Until that moment, they’d taken it for granted that what they knew about foraging would be automatically passed down to younger generations. 

So what started as a family interest in trying out old Irish heritage recipes with foraged ingredients eventually turned into a business: Wild Irish Foragers & Preservers. 

Hannah and Rachel first met Sharon years ago at the Ballymaloe Lit Fest. They were instantly drawn to her stall. It was filled with the extraordinary products Sharon makes in small batches from ingredients her family picks and forages on their small farm. 

When it comes to wild food and revitalising old traditions? We know of no one who brings as much knowledge and passion as Sharon. 

Lisa Kleiner and Anna O’Sullivan of Nibbed

Nibbed came into being during the 2020 lockdown when Lisa, a chef with a degree in Nutrition and a masters in sport and exercise nutrition, began exploring chocolate making. 

Soon Anna, her niece, came on board to contribute her design and wellness marketing know-how. Before long, the company was up and running with an impressive line of deliciously unique cacao-based treats. 

‘One thing about the chocolate industry is they strip off the acids to remove the bitters,’ Lisa says. 

Not so with Nibbed. 

From their cacao teas to their chocolate bark, each will hit you at the front of your tongue then progress back into the acidic flavours. It’s real chocolate. There's just one flavour hitting after the next, after the next, after the next...

Katie Sanderson of White Mausu

Katie was born in Hong Kong and travelled the world as a cook. She now runs a Dublin-based biz bringing the flavours of China, Japan and other places she’s lived and loved to Irish eaters. 

We followed Katie’s food adventures for years and always looked out for her stalls at festivals, the queue was long but oh so worth it! 

We were super excited when the peanut and cashew rāyu became organic. To be honest, we’d LOVE if there were even more Irish artisan organic products available like this. 

Don’t be surprised when Katie’s rāyu quickly turns into a condiment you won’t want to live without. Try it on eggs, tofu, rice, salads, stews, veg…  basically anything that could do with a uniquely savoury and satisfying spicy kick.    

Hayley Power of Hayley Power Wellness

Haley is a wellness expert and herbalist based right here in West Cork… and goodness, does she ever know her therapeutic tea blends.

In fact, during lockdown it was hard to keep her pine needle tea in stock when people caught wind of how good it is for viruses and respiratory issues.  

But our favourite? Her Blossom tea. The rose petals and schizandra make it so comforting and uplifting at the same time. Great if your stress hormones are in overdrive. 

One of the fun things about having Hayley around is she ‘reads’ you before suggesting a tea blend. 

When she was here for our 30th Birthday Food Fair, people were amazed at how well she could determine which tea blend they’d get the most benefit from drinking right at that moment. 

Maureen Fitzpatrick of Miss Maureen’s Buttermilk Soap

Not a food producer (even though she does admit to cutting up her soap samples into fudge-sized pieces to fool the children!)... but still, Maureen firmly belongs on any list of our favourite women producers. 

Maureen makes her exquisite soaps by hand on the Beara peninsula. You’ve just got to try Three Kings. It’s beautifully scented with frankincense and myrrh, and it’s accented with… wait for it… real gold flakes!

As her business name implies, there is one food product that goes into all of Miss Maureen’s soaps: Irish buttermilk. 

Maureen told us that the buttermilk’s benefits are in its lactic acid. This is what acts as an exfoliant, sloughing away dead skin cells and revealing a lovely, natural glow.

Holly Dalton of Conbini  

It’s thanks to Holly we can bring you Sunday Sauce – a brand new product we think you’ll love. 

One taste and you won’t be surprised why it’s already become a hit with our customers. 

Holly is a chef with over 15 years’ experience in professional kitchens who draws a lot of inspiration from her time in Japan. 

Conbini’s sauces are an homage to yōshoku, which is a style of Western-influenced cooking in Japan.

Holly describes Sunday Sauce as hitting somewhere between Teriyaki and Tonkatsu sauce. It’s sweet, umami, tangy… the type of sauce you’d reach for on a Sunday when you’re whipping up a few bits for an easy, satisfying meal.

In fact… it’s the perfect sauce for getting your kids to explore flavours beyond ketchup. (At least worth a try!)

Claire O'Sullivan of WASi Seaweeds

Claire is another Bantry girl, and we’re proud to have been her very first stockist. 

Back then, she started out with her seaweed pestos. Making it easy to bring punchy flavours and the health benefits of seaweed to every meal (try it with eggs for breakfast).

Now that she’s expanded her range to include chocolate, you can even have seaweed for dessert.

But Claire hasn’t stopped there. Recently she started producing skincare – including luxurious bath soak, foot scrub and body oil – all infused with seaweed. 

One thing we’ve always adored about Claire is she’s in it for the love of sealife. Sustainability is at her core. She’s intent on preserving seaweed as a phenomenally beneficial resource for a long time to come.

Anna and Orla Snook O’Carroll of Valentia Island Vermouth

Hannah and Rachel were at Ballymaloe May Fair when a woman named Anna offered them a taste of her vermouth. 

It was love at first sip. 

So much so that Hannah and Rachel grabbed some bottles of kombucha and kefir from My Goodness Food (another woman-driven biz, by the way) and started coming up with new drink combinations on the spot.

When Anna mentioned the possibility of Organico stocking the vermouth, it was a no-brainer. Hannah and Rachel jumped at the chance and haven’t looked back since.

Anna makes Valentia Island Vermouth along with her wife, Orla. Twenty different botanicals go into it, many of which they forage from along the Kerry Coast.

Our next dream holiday? To visit Valentia and see Anna and Orla’s magic at work for ourselves. 

Niamh O’Reilly of Hungry Crow

Niamh actually used to work at The Olive Branch, a health food shop in Clonakilty, before becoming a food producer. 

It was during that time she was inspired to make something missing from the market: decadent, handmade chocolates that are raw, vegan, wheat-free, refined-sugar free and finished with a whimsically artistic flair.  

We’re thrilled to be one of just a small handful of carriers. Niamh sells through her own shop now – attached to her mini-factory just outside Rosscarbery – and also at a few West Cork markets. 

If you haven’t tried her Cashew & Rosewater stuffed dates… what are you waiting for? Try the dates.

We love that Niamh is fully committed to sourcing organic and ethical ingredients. It makes her treats that much sweeter. 

Annie Mar - artist for the Organico bag

So you’ve got your selection of women-owned Irish products. What are you going to put it all in? 

An Organico bag, of course. Made of recycled cotton and polyester, and featuring art from the wonderfully one-of-a-kind Cork artist, Annie Mar. (Go on. Give her a follow on Instagram.)

When we saw Annie’s work – in all its upbeat, quirky glory – we knew she’d be perfect for creating the work to adorn the bag that marked our 30th birthday. 

And now every time we look at it? We smile. See if you don’t do the same.

Get everything in our Irish Women Tastemakers Hamper

At this point, you’re probably excited to try these fabulous products, right?

Well, it couldn’t be easier… Introducing the Irish Women Tastemakers Hamper. 

Containing a fabulous product from every producer above: 

  • Meadowsweet Pot from Wild Irish Foragers and Preservers
  • Fair-Trade Palestinian Medjool Dates with Cashew Rose from Hungry Crow
  • Organic Vegan Cacao & Orange Dark Chocolate Melting Spoon from Nibbed
  • Organic Blossom Rejuvenating Loose Leaf Tea from Hayley Power
  • Black Bean Rayū from White Mausu
  • Geranium Buttermilk Soap from Miss Maureen’s
  • Valentia Island Vermouth
  • Sunday Sauce from Conbini
  • Ginger and Sesame Seaweed Pesto from WASi
  • Irish Butter Fudge Selection from Mella’s Fudge
  • Organico shopping bag featuring art by Annie Mar

Get a hamper for yourself. And why not treat a woman you love to one as well?

While making your way through this selection, you’ll quickly become a connoisseur in some of Ireland’s most imaginative and flavourful foods. And you’ll help build our women up as an indispensable part of the Irish food scene.