IFA wants to see fresh fruit on shop shelves as premium quality products

Retailers have been urged to recognise the investment made by the country’s strawberry and fruit growers.

Irish Farmers Association president Eddie Downey said they can do so by ensuring that fresh fruit is seen on retail shelves as a premium quality product and not used as a loss leader in retail wars.

Marking the start of National Strawberry Week (June 4-10)) on Pat Clarke’s fruit farm in Stamullen, Co Meath, the IFA leader said that Ireland’s 100 strawberry growers produce a crop worth €38m at the farm gate, with production expected to reach 8,000 tonnes this year.

“Growers have made sizeable capital investments on their farms to extend the production season which now provides fresh fruit to the Irish consumer from April right through to November.

“While sales of fruit are growing in volume, there is ongoing concern at the decline in the value of the crop, as a result of pressure from retailers,” he said.

Mr Downey said the IFA is actively involved in the monitoring of proper labelling of fruit, both on retail shelves and in roadside sales.

“Only by regular monitoring and reporting of issues to the Department of Agriculture can a resolution to non-identifiable produce be achieved,” he said.

Mr Downey called on consumers to check for the country-of-origin when buying fruit, and to support Irish production.