The cost of growing carrots has increased by approximately 100% since 2020, while retail carrot prices have increased by just 40% over the same period.

The Irish Carrot Growers Group, set up in 2025, is warning that the economics of producing Ireland’s most purchased vegetable are becoming increasingly unsustainable.

The group represents more than 95% of Ireland’s retail carrot supply with just nine commercial growers left in the sector following the recent loss of a major producer that accounted for approximately 12% of national output.

ADVERTISEMENT

The group is warning that urgent action is needed to ensure the future viability of producing carrots as growers are faced with rising production costs, unsustainable market returns and increasing climate-related challenges, including recent drought conditions.

Costs

Currently, 1kg of carrots retails for about €1.39, with an average kilogramme containing around 10 carrots, equating to less than 14c per carrot.

Growers estimate that a retail price of €1.98/kg would be needed to track the cost against the consumer price index (CPI) alone, which equates to approximately 20c per carrot or a modest increase of just 6c per carrot.

However, this doesn’t take into account the exceptional pressures of the current season or the substantial increases in costs that have occurred above general consumer inflation.

John Dockrell, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford (Irish Carrot Grower’s Group vice-chair) and Tom Murray, O’Shea Farms, Kilkenny (Irish Carrot Grower’s Group chair). \ Finbarr O'Rourke
These additional costs include significant increases in labour, inputs, the growing impact of climate change and tighter European restrictions and regulatory requirements.

Drought effects

Growers are experiencing added pressure due to this year being one of the driest summers in recent times, especially in the east and south of the country where the majority of growers are located.

Drought conditions have increased the need for irrigation by approximately 166%, adding significantly to fuel, labour and operational costs.

According to Teagasc, input costs for field vegetable production increased by 77% between 2020 and January 2026, while a survey of Irish carrot growers indicates that drought-related pressures have added a further 13% increase to input costs during the current season, which translates into a 23% increase in marketable production costs (€/t) for this period.

Vegetable adviser with Teagasc Eoin Sweetman said that the dry conditions have put huge pressure on vegetable crops and yields are back slightly as a result.

“Crops are under a lot of pressure, even where crops have been irrigated, there’s so much demand for irrigation that water availability and access for water, access to enough staff and trying to get around all of the crops, has put growers under a lot of pressure.”

Carrots remain Ireland’s most purchased vegetable, with retail sales of approximately 52,000t annually and a retail market value of approximately €66m.

Irish growers currently produce approximately 62,000t of carrots annually on 891ha nationwide which supply approximately 75% of national demand, while 18,000-20,000t of carrots are imported into Ireland annually.

The concern is that if domestic production continues to come under pressure, Ireland may become increasingly reliant on imports over time.

“Consumers see carrots as one of the most affordable and healthy foods available and rightly so.

“However, the reality is that the current economics of producing carrots in Ireland no longer makes sense,” chair of the Irish Carrot Growers Group Tom Murray commented on the issue.

Skilled

“Ireland is fortunate to have highly skilled carrot growers, but the challenge now is ensuring that domestic production remains financially viable and that the next generation of growers has confidence to continue investing in the sector,” he said.

Climate change is applying added pressure to an already challenging production environment, as increasingly frequent extreme weather events are forcing growers to invest more in resilience measures.

“Growers are investing heavily in irrigation infrastructure, water storage and other resilience measures, while also adapting to changes in crop protection and regulatory requirements.

“All of this requires significant capital and, critically, confidence that there will be a sustainable return on that investment,” vice-chair of the group John Dockrell said.

Grower view

Gerard Hickey from Hickey’s Farm in Boharnamoe, Ardee, Co Louth, told the Irish Farmers Journal that carrot growers want to see consumers in Ireland support the sector, as the demand is high for Irish-grown carrots.

He highlighted that the remaining nine growers came together to show that they are proud Irish growers, producing some of the highest-quality produce around the world.

However, costs and recent drought are putting severe pressure on the sector.

“As you see, we’re only looking for a very, very small increase of 6c [per carrot] – can the Irish consumer rate that quality that they can pay 6c? I think they can, that’s me personally.

Proud

“I’d say that most of the consumers will agree that they could pay 6c more for an Irish carrot and they want to see Irish product on the shelf.

“We’re proud here in this little island to produce this stuff and I think they will back us.”