Offaly carrot grower warns vegetable being sold below sustainable levels
Cost of growing Irish carrots has doubled since 2020, yet prices have risen just 40%
LOCAL carrot growers, including Philip Draper from Birr, Offaly, are warning that the economics of producing Ireland's favourite vegetable are becoming increasingly unsustainable, with production costs rising by approximately 100% since 2020 while retail carrot prices have increased by just 40% over the same period.
Philip is among only nine remaining commercial carrot growers left in Ireland and are members of the Irish Carrot Growers Group which represents more than 95% of Ireland's retail carrot supply.
Faced with rising production costs, unsustainable market returns and increasing climate-related challenges, including recent drought conditions, the growers are warning that urgent action is needed to ensure the long-term viability of Ireland’s favourite vegetable.
This warning comes as growers continue to manage the impact of one of the driest summers in recent years, which has increased the need for irrigation of crops by 166%, significantly increasing fuel, labour and operational costs at a time when margins are already under pressure. According to Teagasc, input costs for field vegetable production have increased by 77% between 2020 and January 2026, but a survey of Irish carrot growers shows that drought-related pressures have added another 23% in costs during the current season.
At the heart of the issue is the widening gap between the cost of growing carrots and the price consumers pay. A kilogram of carrots currently retails for approximately €1.39. Based on an average kilogram containing around ten carrots, that equates to less than 14 cent per carrot.
Growers say the retail price would need to be closer to €1.98 per kilo, or approximately 20 cent per carrot, to provide a sustainable return for producers and support future investments in climate resilience and production. This would equate to a modest increase of just 6c per carrot.
Speaking about the issue, Tom Murray, Chair of the Irish Carrot Growers Group said, "Consumers see carrots as one of the most affordable and healthy foods available, and rightly so. However, the reality is that the current economics of producing carrots in Ireland no longer makes sense. The gap between production costs and returns has widened significantly over recent years and that is putting real pressure on growers.
“Ireland is fortunate to have highly skilled carrot growers but the challenge now is ensuring that domestic production remains financially viable and that the next generation of growers has confidence to continue investing in the sector."
Carrots remain Ireland's most purchased vegetable, with retail sales of approximately 52,000 tonnes annually and a retail market value of approximately €66 million. Irish growers currently produce approximately 62,000 tonnes of carrots annually on 891 hectares nationwide.
While growers continue to invest heavily in production, climate resilience is becoming one of the biggest challenges facing Irish horticulture. Following previous drought events, many growers invested in irrigation equipment, water storage infrastructure and other resilience measures. However, growers say increasingly frequent extreme weather events are demanding further investment to maintain domestic production and build long-term resilience.
The group says maintaining a strong domestic carrot sector is important not only for growers but also for Ireland's long-term food security. Ireland currently imports approximately 18,000-20,000 tonnes of carrots annually and growers believe it is important that domestic production remains competitive and viable into the future.
Commenting on the need to future-proof the sector, John Dockrell, Vice-Chair of the Irish Carrot Growers Group added, "Climate events that were once considered unusual are becoming increasingly common. Growers are investing heavily in irrigation infrastructure, water storage and other resilience measures, but those investments require confidence and the ability to generate a sustainable return.
“Food security is not simply about having food available today. It is about having the growers, skills, infrastructure and investment needed to continue producing food at home in the years ahead. We know consumers want to buy Irish and support local growers. To meet that demand growers must be able to earn a viable return that enables continued investment in the resilience and sustainability of Irish carrot production."