Irish Horticulture Industry - Bord Bia

Overall performance and performance drivers

The horticulture industry is diverse and covers plant and food horticulture. Horticulture food sectors active in Ireland include the mushroom, potato, field vegetables, soft fruit, edible protected crops and top fruit sectors. The amenity horticulture sector includes nursery stock, protected crops, cut foliage and outdoor flowers and bulbs.

While covering less than 2% of agricultural land, the Irish horticulture industry accounts for approximately 11% of total agri-food jobs (direct and downstream) and therefore it is a vital component of the rural economy. This industry is responsible for providing employment directly to more than 7,000 people involved in primary production and a further 11,000 involved downstream.

Horticulture is considered a low environmental impact method of production, and recent developments and advancements have helped facilitate a further reduction. There has been a widespread adoption of Integrated Pest Management practices, innovative technology to reduce energy use and adoption of precision farming methods. Approximately 568 hectares of land is currently under organic food horticulture production.

Horticulture is a labour-intensive industry with high input costs. The industry’s particularly low margins make re-investment to meet further sustainability demands difficult to achieve. The horticulture industry makes a valuable contribution to the Irish economy. In 2022 the total estimated value of the industry was €529 million with €429 million for food horticulture and €100 million for amenity and other non-edible products. This valuation does not include the financial worth of the amenity sector’s contribution to the economy through tourism and carbon sequestration, for example.

For food horticulture most of what is produced in Ireland is consumed domestically, apart from mushrooms where approximately 85% of production is exported to the United Kingdom. Amenity growers in Ireland service both the domestic and export market.

DAFM Horticultural Output Estimates (Farmgate Value)

Summary	2023	2024	% Change 2024 -2023
	€,000	€,000
Edible Protected crops	84,002	86,032	2.4
Field crops	95,853	109,383	14.1
Outdoor Soft Fruit	733	722	-1.6
Top fruit	8,960	9,116	1.7
Amenity	99,293	100,579	1.3
Potatoes	128,420	174,614	36.0
Mushrooms	136,256	158,611	16.4
Total	553,517	639,057	15.5

Kantar Data:

	23-Mar-25	22-Mar-26
Total Produce	1,931,636	2,030,996
Total Vegetables	704,413	732,443
Total Potatoes	312,781	290,951
Total Fruit	914,442	1,007,666
Kantar Retail Total Fresh Produce
Spend (€000) \| Actual \| Total Outlets \| 52 w/e

Trends by key products

Several factors affected mushroom exports, including weather, input costs and prices. 2025 saw the hottest spring and summer on record in the UK, which dampened sales of mushrooms (often used in comfort-based stews and risottos).

The minimum wage increased to €13.50 per hour in January 2025, alongside higher employer Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions and the cost of implementing other mandatory benefits. These resulted in
increased production costs, as wages make up a significant component.

A decline in sales of closed cup mushroomsreduced overall volumes, while button, flat and portobello mushrooms also declined. Brown mushrooms showed good growth relative to 2024, while exotics, sliced, and closed cup mushrooms also increased.

Amenity exports were steady for foliage and plants, while daffodils showed a slight increase.

The UK accounted for the majority of foliage and plant sales, with the exception of daffodils.

Demand in the UK was steady, with sales to Northern Ireland increasing. Christmas tree sales continue to show growth potential.

The value of Irish cereal exports declined by 10% to €80 million in 2025. With volumes flat, the driver of this decline was lower global commodity prices.

Availability was the key factor in global price declines, with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) forecasting that global cereal production will reach a record level in 2025, up 4.4% from
2024 (FAO, 2025).

Teagasc estimates that the 2025 harvest in Ireland was in line with this trend due to increases in both the area and yield for winter crops. Total cereal production is estimated at 2.23 million tonnes, approximately 6%
above the five-year average from 2020-2024 (Teagasc, 2025).

Bord Bia Export Performance and Prospects report 2025-2026 cover image.

Export Performance & Prospects 2025 - 2026

To read more about the horticulture and cereals sector in 2025 and its prospects for 2026, read the full Export Performance and Prospects 2025 - 2026 report now.

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