New production technology bears fruit in Ireland
improvements, a Teagasc conference in Ireland has been told.
Through the adoption of new production methods, the value of
strawberries has more than doubled during the last few years and
annual production in the country is now in excess of 4,500 tonnes.
Addressing the National Soft Fruit Conference in Ireland run by Teagasc in association with Bord Glas and the Soft Fruit Growers Association, Teagasc soft fruit adviser Eamonn Kehoe said that production in glasshouses and in polythene and tunnel systems enables fresh strawberries to be produced for up to eight months of the year. "These new systems give much higher yields and more consistent quality than outdoor production," he said.
In contrast, the traditional system of outdoor production confined the strawberry season to four to six weeks. As a result, a growing proportion of strawberries are now grown in glasshouses that were previously used for salad crops.
"Glasshouses are essential for earliest production of strawberries and many of the new growers are in the Dublin region which has the largest area of glasshouses. Production under glass is also on the increase in Wexford, the traditional home of strawberry production," said Kehoe.
The bulk of strawberries grown under cover are produced in peat-filled bags, placed on shelves. This allows for better crop management and faster packing.
"The new technology has led to greater flexibility and makes it possible to grow strawberries anywhere in the country. However, due to higher sunlight levels in the east and south east, growers in these areas have a competitive advantage due to earlier ripening," he said.
In spite of the rapid expansion in home production, Kehoe said some supermarkets are importing fresh strawberries, particularly from the US, at periods when high quality Irish fruit is available. He called for better planning and communication between growers and supermarkets in order to reduce these gaps in supply.
Teagasc scientist Dr Killian Brady told the conference that recent research results show that biological control has the potential to replace chemicals in controlling pests and some diseases in strawberries and other soft fruit crops. This development, he said, could greatly enhance the image of soft fruit as a natural product.
