In a world where the majority of horticultural crops are imported, this Exchange aims to take a different perspective, and demonstrate how a completely new product can be produced from local crops. This Exchange will feature a presentation and discussion from Klaus Laitenberger and Con Traas on the production of fruit and adding yacon and how a new, saleable product can be produced at local level to help increase farm incomes.

Expert
Klaus Laitenberger & Con Traas
Artist: Deidre O'Mahony

Klaus Laitenberger (Organic Grower, Author & Educator - Ireland)
Hailing from south Germany and now living in Leitrim, Klaus worked as the Head Gardener at the Organic Centre in Co Leitrim for 7 years. He is an acclaimed author of a number of Irish Gardening Books, lectured on the MSc in Organic Horticulture at UCC, and currently works as an organic inspector for the Organic Trust. He has grown a diverse range of alternative and novel food crops - mainly from the Andes region. This year, Klaus was the tutor of NOTS' inaugural online course "Growing in Polytunnels" which was a major success with 350 participants from all over Ireland.

Cornelius “Con” Traas (The Apple Farm, Cahir, Co Tipperary)
Con Traas runs The Apple Farm, a 60ac farm at Moorestown near Cahir in South Tipperary. As well as apples, they grow pears, plums, sweet cherries, strawberries and raspberries. They also have a Camping and Caravan Park on the farm. The Apple Farm makes apple juice and mixed juices from our other fruits; all done on-site. They even make sparkling apple juice and cider vinegar. The farm employs 20 people, including a full-time horticulturist. Con also works off-farm as a part-time lecturer in plant physiology, horticulture and biology at the University of Limerick.