Independent consultant and HIF Coordinator, Stiofán Nutty, explains how fresh produce growers are uniting under the new body to benefit all
The idea of forming an umbrella organisation for Irish Fresh Produce Growers was first mooted at a Teagasc Horticulture Stakeholders meeting in May 2014. The stakeholders came together to discuss a range of serious issues facing Irish growers. A series of follow-up meetings led to the founding of the Horticulture Industry Forum (HIF) with a committee of representatives from five sectors, Vegetables, Mushrooms, Soft Fruit, Top Fruit and Protected Crops. Teagasc, Bord Bia and the IFA also joined the Forum as associate members. Bord Bia sponsored the initial establishment activities of the Forum and these are now being funded by members of the Forum.*.
Three priority areas were identified for improvement; a) growers relationships with supermarkets b) effective routes to market and c) increased promotion of Irish produce. A coordinator was appointed in January 2015 to work with grower representatives on the three priority areas. An Action Plan was compiled and approved by the HIF. This initially included the task of compiling statistics, data and information that are pertinent to the industry. This resource will be used as an information “well” to facilitate the Forum to make its PR case on various issues, provide material for promotional campaigns and populate a future HIF website.
During its consultation phase, last spring the HIF made a presentation to the Food Wise 2025 committee and many HIF recommendations were included in the published Food Wise 2025 Strategy. The HIF also communicated with the Minister for Horticulture in relation to the challenges being experienced by Producer Organisations around the scheme criteria and maximising the drawdown of EU funds. A facilitator was appointed to help explore these matters and find resolutions to the issues being raised.
The below-cost selling of fresh produce was identified as a major issue by the forum. As part of the Forum Action Plan, a document on “below cost selling” was compiled and used in discussions with government and opposition members before the election. The current low margins being earned by growers are unsustainable. Increasingly volatile weather is making growing ever more unpredictable and most commercial growers are now in their 50s and 60s with very few young entrants emerging. The HIF intends to meet the Minister of Agriculture and present to the Joint Committee on Agriculture immediately after the election to seek urgent action on the issue. In a recent HIF press release the current forum Chairman Brian O’Reilly stated “Unless those remaining in production can secure a level of price for their produce that provides an adequate living and a capacity to re-invest in their businesses, even the remaining resilient growers will soon exit the market. Without urgent regulatory intervention by government, Ireland will become even more dependent on imported produce.”
The HIF has been working with the Department of Justice on a possible employment programme for refugees. Another Action Plan initiative being progressed currently involves a pilot procurement project and the HIF hopes to be in a position to offer a number of growers initially an opportunity to purchase certain types of packaging at a more competitive cost that they are achieving currently. If this initiative is successful it will be rolled out on a wider scale. In addition, the HIF is planning during 2016 to liaise with policymakers in the retail market to explore how the trading relationships between growers and retailers can be improved on a collaborative basis and made more sustainable in the long term. The HIF will continue to progress its Action Plan in the months ahead with an increasing emphasis on developing its PR mandate.
*Ronnie Wilson (Monaghan Mushrooms)/John O’Shea (O’Shea Farms/Iverk Produce). ✽
 STIOFÁN NUTTY has been involved in commercial horticulture for nearly 30 years. In that time he has built an expansive experience and knowledge base across the horticultural spectrum. He has owned and operated a nursery business, an award-winning garden centre, worked extensively in education and television was appointed as Special Advisor to the Minister for Food and Horticulture Trevor Sargent.In 2010 he was appointed as Special Advisor to the Minister for Sustainable Transport, Horticulture, Planning and Heritage, Ciaran Cuffe. In the past 3 years, Stiofán has facilitated and moderated eight European conferences in Brussels. In 2015, he was appointed as Coordinator of the Horticulture Industry Forum. |
