Summer is not over yet in Ireland, and temperatures are still higher than normal. But autumn is coming, and the produce on the wholesale markets is changing.

“Irish berries are finished for the season,” said Barra Sweetnam from wholesaler All Fresh. “We are seeing the supply of parsnips, turnips and potatoes improving. Corn on the cob and exotic mushrooms are very popular just now. Salad and baby leaf are still selling well, as it always does.”

© AllFresh

“Irish leeks are also back after a gap; they should have been here six weeks ago, but are late due to the hot weather. Sizes are small, but prices are high. Celery is very popular just now; good volumes are available. We have had good rain in the last three weeks, but also still higher than normal temperatures, which produced a great celery crop.”

Right: Barra with an Irish leek grower

Bara commented that there is always a shortage of something while other crops are in abundance.

Promoting Irish produce
Barra supplies food service and restaurants and said they are bringing in some squash and pumpkins to get the chefs in the mood for Autumn. He is a big advocate of homegrown produce and will promote this wherever possible.

“We will be doing some unusual pumpkin varieties from an Irish grower this season. We are also trying to promote big leaf spinach, from an Irish grower; this has all but died out as baby leaf spinach got popular.

“Our main aim is to promote Irish production as much as we can. We helped an Irish tomato grower a few weeks ago who had a big crop of heirloom tomatoes; the supply will stop soon as he grows in unheated glass houses and then the imports will take over. Ireland imports 90% of the heirloom tomatoes, so we did a lot of work with him to sell his produce.

Barra said that if a grower comes to them, it’s their job to promote and sell his produce.

“We want to become a link to Irish produce for the food service; we are not looking at becoming a retail supplier.”

Exceptionally hot summer
“The summer in Ireland was hot and traumatic for growers, but as disastrous as in England. Our farmers lost a lot of cauliflower and broccoli, but thanks to the combination of rain and heat it is now in good supply.

“Potatoes will be really tight, going into autumn and winter; the English crop is well down as is the Irish. The heat has affected sizes, so baking potatoes will be in short supply.”

For more information:
Barra Sweetnam
Allfresh Wholesale
Tel: +353 21 4510526
[email protected]
www.allfresh.ie