Irish consumers spend almost €75 million on Strawberries
Ireland’s first Irish Strawberry Wine launches at Bloom 2016
National Strawberry Week 2016 starts Monday, June 6th
Irish strawberry sales are bloomin’ according to new figures released today on day three of Bord Bia’s Bloom festival. Retail sales have increased by almost 20% year on year, with over 7.7 million kgs sold in the last 12 months, valued at €74.3 million (source: Kantar). The increased sales figures are welcome news for the industry ahead of National Strawberry Week, which takes place from the 6th to the 12th of June.
Michal Slawski, Development and Marketing Specialist, Bord Bia commented “The growth in consumption is fantastic news for the industry, and a reward for the hard work, time and effort they’ve invested to help grow the category. Strawberries are an increasingly popular choice among consumers as a tasty, low calorie, convenient snack.”
National Strawberry Week, organised by the Irish Soft Fruit Growers Association in conjunction with Bord Bia and the IFA, aims to encourage consumers to enjoy more strawberries as the summer season approaches and Irish crops are at peak production. The week long promotional campaign includes a major on pack competition, primary school activities nationwide and an interactive website that includes delicious seasonal recipe suggestions.
Gary McCarthy, Irish Soft Fruit Growers Association, added “Fresh fruit and vegetables are a vital part of a healthy diet. The cold start to the year means the strawberry crop is a little later, but slow grown and sweeter than ever. We expect the Irish crop this year to total 7,700 tonnes. The sector currently employs over 1,000 people.”
New Product: 100% Irish Strawberry Wine
If you’re looking for a new way to celebrate National Strawberry Week, Wicklow Way Wines (www.wicklowwaywines.ie) Ireland’s first fruit winery, launched Ireland’s first ever Strawberry Wine at Bloom 2016. Originated by husband and wife team, Brett Stephenson and Pamela Walsh, the couple discovered fruit wines on their travels in the United States and in 2013 set about making their own wine from wild Irish blackberries and elderberries, picked in the meadows of the Wicklow Mountains where they live. Keen to start their own business, the couple opened a small fruit winery in Co. Wicklow in 2015. The unique flavours and aromas of the wines convinced the couple they could create something special, and so they sought the expertise and guidance of a world-renowned winemaker to develop a fine Strawberry Wine, which they launched yesterday under the brand name Móinéir (after the Irish word for meadows).
Strawberries are an ideal healthy treat, low in calories and provide the perfect way to get one of the five recommended portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Strawberries are naturally high in vitamin C.
Visit www.bestinseason.ie to see strawberry themed recipes created for National Strawberry Week 2016.
