Naas-Based Broccoli Grower Warns Of Dependency On Small Number Of Producers

It's estimated that the number of commercial growers has dropped from over 600 to 70

Fruit and vegetable producers across Ireland have called for more support to address the decline in the number of commercial growers in recent decades.

Since the 1990s, it has been estimated that the number of commercial growers has dropped from more than 600 to around 70 at present.

This production is of huge importance in Kildare, with the largest broccoli producer being based in Naas, known as Paul Brophy Produce.

Speaking on Kildare Today, Paul Brophy warned of the dependency on a small number of growers:

"If there was an incident on our farm that caused me to stop or scale back, we're doing over 60 per cent of what's produced in broccoli in Ireland, the other three producers wouldn't have the ability to take that on overnight, so the business would go out of the country.

"Food security is a huge issue, particularly with climate change and regional conflicts, we have to make sure that we have the ability and continue to have the ability to produce our own food in Ireland," he added.

He also alluded to younger people "following the money" in other industries, and aren't as happy to work as constantly as is needed in agriculture.

Paul suggested that regulation may be acting as a barrier to knew growers looking to enter the market:

"Today, there is a vast amount of regulation, and I'm all for regulation, but for a young person starting out, they do have to punch above their weight to reach expectations.

"I'm very lucky I have dedicated people doing quality management on site and we ensure we go through those audits, but people starting out would have to start out at the same standard as we're at, and that creates a barrier for young people." 

As a nation, Brophy also feels as though we have "lost our connection with food" and what food security represents:

"We have to go back to our schooling days and look at getting food production and preparation back on the curriculum, because the people in school are going to be the purchase and decision makers in 20 years time.

"If they create a desire for Irish products and are willing to pay a fair price for it, we'll get people back into it," he concluded.

The full interview can be heard below: