Irish mushroom sector stable despite fewer growers - DAFM
Despite a lower number of mushroom producers in Ireland, overall mushroom production has remained consistent over the past five years.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Niall Collins, said the number of mushroom growers in Ireland has consolidated over time.
"Farms [are] becoming larger to gain efficiencies of scale in what is an extremely competitive marketplace."
He was responding to a question by Deputy Malcolm Byrne to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine during a Dáil Éireann Debate on the agriculture industry.
He said the sector's estimated farm-gate value for 2025 had increased 13.1% on 2024 to of €1.8 million.
"Irish producers export 80-85% of production to the UK each year".
Minister Collins explained that during warmer spring and summer months, Irish consumer demand for mushrooms decreased.
"The sector, supported by Bord Bia, is working hard to promote mushroom consumption with campaigns such as 'It's Not Magic. It's Mushrooms.' to turn occasional purchasers into loyal purchasers and drive further consumption," he added.
Funding schemes
The department also administers the Scheme of EU aid for Producer Organisations in the Fruit and Vegetables Sector, which paid out €8.7 million in aid to five producer organisations in 2025.
"This scheme and the Exchequer funded Schemes for Investment Aid for Innovation and Diversification in Horticulture and Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector have supported the sector in investing in automation and other efficiency initiatives to reduce costs."
The budget allocation for these schemes for 2026 was €8.5 million, he said.
As part of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan, the Fruit and Vegetable PO Scheme also provides EU aid to recognised producer organisations operating in fruit and vegetable sector, according to the DAFM website.
"It aims to improve the bargaining power of producers by becoming part of a larger supply base and improve the sustainability of fruit and vegetables production.
"The scheme is designed to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables in the EU, and support efforts to protect the environment," the website said.
