What do Sitka spruce and silky pink tomatoes have in common? If you visit Wexford Tomatoes at Horeswood Nurseries in Campile, Co Wexford, you’ll discover that silky pinks are one of over 20 varieties of tomatoes grown by the company which derives its energy from predominantly Sitka spruce wood chips.

The company is just one of a number of enterprises based in Co Wexford which are switching their energy needs from oil to wood, as it makes sense economically and environmentally. This was illustrated during a recent field trip to Wexford organised by the Irish BioEnergy Association (IrBEA).