The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) is holding crisis talks in the Farm Centre in Dublin today regarding below cost-of-production pricing strategies of a number of key retailers in Ireland.
Speaking on Today with Sean O’Rourke, IFA president elect Eddie Downey said the talks will take place as a matter of urgency. In addition, he said the below cost-of-production selling by retailers in the run up to Christmas highlight the urgent need for a Code of Practice.
According to the farming organisation, in some supermarkets, fresh Irish vegetables are for sale at a price as low as five cent per kg.
The IFA is currently calling on consumers not to buy cheap vegetables.
There is now just 215 commercial vegetable growers in Ireland, a drop from 377 in 1999. Reports say unfair pricing, weather disruption and increasing competition from imports are to blame.
More reports to follow