Fianna Fáil agriculture spokesman Éamon Ó Cuív and the IFA have warned retailers against the prospect of below-cost selling of vegetables over the Christmas period.

In the final shopping week before Christmas, the focus on the below-cost selling of vegetables is back in the public eye. Just two years ago, the IFA staged a series of 50 protests at retailers across the country as a result of vegetables being sold for as little as 5c.

“Back in 2013, fruit and veg producers were put at a serious financial disadvantage when the major multiples began selling off vegetables at totally uneconomic prices. There is talk in the trade that some of the large retailers have plans in place to repeat the offers of 2013. This will result in huge pressure on growers as well as small greengrocers,” Ó Cuív said.