Fall in fruit and veg exports but huge potential in sector

FRUIT and vegetable exports from Ireland have fallen but there are abundant opportunities in the sector.

That’s according to the Irish Exporters Association (IEA) and the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) in a cross-border horticultural development report launched at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast yesterday.

IEA chief executive John Whelan said total exports of fruit and vegetables fell by 10% in 2004 to €218 million. The largest decline was to the North, where a 50% fall was recorded.

Equally, exports from the North to the Republic fell by 17%. Total North/South trade in the edible horticulture sector fell from €48m in 2003 to €34m in 2004.

“This decline in exports is matched by a decline in overall output from the sector, particularly in the potato and mushroom sectors which accounted for 60% of the total,” said Mr Whelan.

“However, the consumer demand pattern in general as shown by this study, continues to be very strong. An example of this is the rapidly growing food service sector, valued at €3.2bn at retail level, which primarily utilises imported fruit and vegetable produce.”

The cross-border initiative was based on the potential to rebuild some of the traditional horticulture sectors, such as potatoes from Donegal and apples from Armagh by using the cluster model successfully exploited by Monaghan Mushrooms for the past two decades.

Both the IEA and NIFDA called for the support and involvement of Intertrade Ireland, Bord Bia and DARD in driving their next phases to ensure long-term real change and regeneration in the producer sector.