In response to a parliamentary question by Bernard Durkan, a Kildare Fine Gael TD minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, revealed that Ireland has imported more than EUR400 million worth of fresh vegetables this year. According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) regularly provides information on agri-food and the trade in prepared food items with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and includes detailed data regarding the import of vegetables. The preliminary figures for 2023 showed that imports of vegetables reached EUR412 million, which equates to 342,760 tonnes. It is a 17 percent growth in value, and an increase of 6% in quantity compared to 2022. It also highlights the growing tendency in the import of vegetables. Minister McConalogue stressed the need to exclude items made from vegetables and stressed the importance to balance agri-food imports and exports. Ireland had a substantial Agri-Food trade surplus that was over EUR5 billion by 2023. Ministers have committed to continuous observation of trends in trade as well as working with other stakeholders in order to meet the goals for Food Vision 2030, particularly to ensure the safety of food, its nutrition and the appeal.

Source: Agriland