'As costs increasingly go up, growers need all the support they can get’

The Irish Farmers Journal spoke to four growers at the launch of the Irish horticulture charter and got their views on the issues affecting the sector.

Shane Halpin, Welgro Produce, Co Dublin

“As costs increasingly go up, growers need all the support they can get. And to know that a retailer is behind you, that you’re going to grow a crop, sell your crop and have enough money to keep going the next year, is very important in this day and age. It really goes into the whole food-security thing as well; we import a lot of fresh produce, so the more we can produce here, the fresher it is and the better it is for the environment and people's health.

“It’s been an interesting year, we went from a very dark and wet spring to a big drought there in the last few weeks; hopefully we get a bit of rain in the next few days. It’s been great for the cucumbers and salad sales but not too good for the field crops. We have been irrigating a lot, and we don’t have water in all our crops. Yield will be back, but hopefully we get a bit of rain to try and drive on what’s there.”

Niall McCormack, McCormack Fruit, Co Longford

“The challenges this year, of course, have been the weather, strawberries have ripened that little bit earlier, so yields are back this year.

“Another big problem is labour, and it has become a huge issue within the soft fruit and veg industry. Growers really need workers for about three to six months. We are looking for a seasonal working scheme to be brought in, unfortunately it has been very slow. In 2024, legislation was passed for the seasonal work permit scheme, there was one in 2025, unfortunately it was brought in way too late, there has been none in 2026 and there is talks of one for 2027. This is really not helping the soft fruit and veg industry. Growers have enough to contend with between prices, cost of production and weather, and we really don’t need more problems.”

Martin Flynn, Flynn Tomatoes, Co Dublin

“It’s a very positive step for the horticulture industry in Ireland. It means that the retailers are committed to working with Irish growers on a long-term basis, longer-term contracts and abiding by a fairer system.

“On the tomatoes side, for us the year has been very good, demand has been very strong. We are seeing an increased demand for Irish produce. We are working with a number of retailers, and that is key for us so we can continue to invest in our business. We are investing in modern glasshouses to grow tomatoes, and it’s really important that we have commitment.

Jason O’Leary, potato farmer Co Wexford

“We haven’t seen rain of any amount, maybe 4mm or 5mm since the first week in June where we started in spring with loads of rain. Yields are looking to be back 30/40%, anyone that hasn’t been able to irrigate the crops size has been very difficult to get into them. Once the potatoes are finished growing, there is not much that can be done, but maybe the specks in the supermarkets might have to have a smaller run of potatoes. A scabbier potato, because of the dryness; when you don’t have enough rain, you get a lot more effect on the scabbiness of a potato, which doesn’t affect the quality, but it affects the size.

“We're here today to make the progression from the grower to the supermarket more open and transparent. Hopefully the supermarkets are recognising that it’s difficult times for growers and that hopefully it will pass down more of the market price”

Watch the full interviews here: