Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormFresh
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Fresh strawberry is Ireland’s main soft-fruit crop and is primarily produced under protected systems (tunnels/glasshouses) to supply the domestic market. Teagasc indicates the Irish season is now extended to roughly March through November, with Wexford’s traditional outdoor/polytunnel season commonly described as May to October. Ireland is a net importer of fresh strawberries, with imports concentrated in intra-EU trade flows (notably the Netherlands and Spain), while exports are comparatively limited. Retailers/wholesalers dominate commercial offtake, with additional local/direct channels (e.g., roadside and farmers’ markets) noted in producing areas such as County Wexford.
Market RoleNet importer with meaningful domestic protected production
Domestic RoleKey domestic soft-fruit crop supplying Irish retailers/wholesalers and local/direct channels
Market GrowthGrowingreported annual growth around 10% (context: Irish protected fresh-strawberry sector)
SeasonalityProtected cropping extends Irish fresh-strawberry availability from early spring into late autumn; Wexford’s peak season is commonly described as May to October, while some producers also market winter/December strawberries from heated glasshouse systems.
Specification
Primary VarietyMalling Centenary
Physical Attributes- Firm fruit and regular shape are highlighted in published cultivar descriptions for 'Malling Centenary'.
Grades- Class 1 fruit is a commonly referenced quality benchmark in Irish protected strawberry production context (Teagasc reports high Class 1 performance in trials).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Protected cropping (tunnel/glasshouse) → harvest → sorting/grading → packing → chilled distribution to Irish retailer/wholesaler DCs → retail
- Intra-EU supply (e.g., Netherlands/Spain) → pre-cooling/packing → refrigerated transport to Ireland → importer/DC handling → retail
Temperature- Cold-chain discipline is critical due to short shelf life; delays in refrigerated transport or DC handling can materially reduce saleable life.
Shelf Life- Shelf life is highly sensitive to harvest maturity, handling damage, and transport delays; protected production aims to improve consistency of supply and quality.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighFresh strawberries entering Ireland (EU) face strict EU plant-health and pesticide-residue compliance expectations; non-compliance (e.g., missing/invalid phytosanitary documentation for regulated consignments or MRL exceedances) can trigger delays, enhanced checks, rejection, or withdrawal from the market.For third-country shipments: confirm whether strawberries/consignment type is regulated for phytosanitary certification; ensure valid phytosanitary certificate and TRACES NT CHED-PP pre-notification where required; run residue-management and pre-shipment testing aligned to EU MRLs.
Logistics MediumStrawberries are highly perishable; disruptions in refrigerated transport or port/ferry schedules can reduce shelf life and increase shrink, particularly for imports supporting off-season supply.Use validated cold-chain partners, set clear temperature/handling KPIs, and plan contingency routing and buffer lead times for peak demand periods.
Climate MediumDomestic supply volumes and quality can fluctuate with Irish weather, especially during the main outdoor/polytunnel season window in producing regions (e.g., Wexford).Balance procurement between protected-cropping suppliers and diversified import origins to smooth weather-driven volatility.
Sustainability- Protected cropping (tunnels/glasshouses) is central to Irish production, with sustainability expectations commonly framed through programmes such as Origin Green and assurance schemes for horticulture.
Labor & Social- Assurance schemes used in Irish horticulture explicitly include staff welfare and social sustainability requirements for participating growers.
Standards- Bord Bia Sustainable Horticulture Assurance Scheme (SHAS)
FAQ
When is the Irish fresh-strawberry season, and what extends it?Teagasc describes Irish fresh strawberries being produced from March until November, largely due to protected cropping (tunnels/glasshouses) and related production methods. In County Wexford, the commonly cited local season window is May to October, while some producers also market limited Irish strawberries into December from glasshouse systems.
Which countries supply most of Ireland’s imported fresh strawberries?UN Comtrade data accessed via the World Bank’s WITS tool shows Ireland’s 2024 fresh-strawberry (HS 081010) imports were led by the Netherlands and Spain, followed by Germany and Belgium, with smaller volumes from origins such as Egypt.
What are the key compliance steps for importing fresh strawberries into Ireland from outside the EU?Ireland applies EU plant-health and food-safety rules: for regulated third-country plant products, DAFM import procedures reference CHED-PP completion in TRACES NT, advance submission of required documents, and a valid phytosanitary certificate where applicable. Imports also need to comply with EU pesticide maximum residue levels (MRLs) and are subject to official controls and monitoring frameworks.