Irish growers claim only domestic support and fair pricing will keep them going

Over the last twelve months, several Irish veg growers — both on a large and smaller scale — have stated that year would be their last harvest as prices paid failed to keep up with the spiraling cost of inputs. This has been a trend seen across Northern Europe. Major growing countries such as the Netherlands have dramatically scaled back production levels, put off growing through the autumn and winter by high gas and electricity prices. Horticultural industry reports suggest the area of tomatoes grown under lights in the Netherlands this winter may be just an eighth of the 800 hectares typically grown. Now, as vegetable aisles are emptying across Ireland, Irish growers have warned the public to "use us or lose us." David Currid, one of just a handful of glasshouse tomato growers in Ireland, is the chairman of the Quality Green Producer Organisation, which represents several of the major commercial glasshouse growers in Ireland. He warned that the issue of food security for fresh ...