Irish consumers are spending more on fruit and vegetables in retail outlets than on any other type of food, Bord Glas, said last week.
It said that as food sales top the €1 billion mark, Irish consumers were spending the equivalent of 15 per cent of the total grocery market and more than the value of dairy products or meat.
It said sales of fresh fruit and vegetables increased by over 4 per cent to €844 million in 2003 as more households brought fresh produce in larger volumes and more regularly.
"The remainder is comprised of retail sales of frozen and canned fruit and vegetables, chilled salads and speciality potato products," said Bord Glas chief executive, Mr Michael Maloney.
A breakdown of the retail sales of €844 million showed that vegetable sales stood at €335 million, excluding potatoes.
Potato sales last year in retail outlets were worth €163 million and the Irish consumer spent a total of €346 million on the purchase of fruit.
Presenting the Bord Glas National Quality Awards for the production and handling of produce, Mr Noel Treacy, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food said today's market was very much consumer driven.
"These demands encompass an expectation of not just a wide range of products, but also of full traceability, food safety, hygiene and quality," he said. "Improvements in the presentation and quality of Irish produce over the past decade have been very substantial and quality and hygiene have become critical issues in food production."
The Bord Glas Quality Awards were presented in recognition of the achievement of the Bord Glas standards established for the horticultural industry. These standards consist of a code of practice for the production, handling, packing, storage and transport.
The successful participants were:
- Field Vegetables: Hilltown Growers, Co Dublin.
- Fruit: Glen Fruits, Co Waterford.
- Mushrooms: James Quinn, Co Tipperary.
- Protected Food Crops: Horeswood Nurseries, Co Wexford.
- Potatoes: Michael & Gabriel Hoey, Co Dublin.