Apple grower faces no shortage of challenges as he grows around 6m every year

Some 83% of the fruit and vegetables we consume are not Irish. We now import 70,000 tonnes of potatoes each year — as well as tens of thousands of tonnes of apples, carrots, onions and cabbage. In a special report, we investigate where our food comes from and why it matters.

Con Traas with a selection of their produce at The Apple Farm in Cahir, Co Tipperary. Pictures: Eddie O'Hare

For apple grower Con Trass most of the satisfaction with the job comes from overcoming the challenges.

And there is no shortage of challenges — input costs, retailer power, labour, difficult weather conditions, and climate change.