Objective of the Horticulture Industry Forum
The Horticulture Industry Forum (HIF) supports the horticulture industry by working proactively with fresh producer growers, government, state agencies, policy makers, retailers and the general public to build a sustainable industry that will provide healthy fresh produce for the nation and beyond. HIF engages with all stakeholders to facilitate meeting the challenges that confront the industry and to create conditions that will grow and develop the industry on a long term basis.
The HIF Subcommittee oversees the implementation of the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027.
Background and Structure of the Horticulture Industry Forum
At a Horticulture Stakeholders meeting in May 2014, it was proposed to establish an umbrella organisation, for Irish Fresh Produce Growers, to address the serious issues facing the industry. A series of meetings facilitated by Teagasc led to the founding of the Horticulture Industry Forum. The governing committee (also known as the “Sub Committee") is elected by a general meeting of the Forum, which is composed of representatives from seven sectors, Field Vegetables, Mushrooms, Potatoes, Amenity, Soft Fruit, Top Fruit and Protected Crops.
Teagasc, Bord Bia, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the IFA are associate members and each have representatives on the governing committee. The grower Chairman and Vice Chairman of the governing committee are also elected at a general meeting of the Forum. The Chair and Vice Chair must be from different sectors. The governing committee is empowered to act and take decisions on behalf of the Forum.
The Sub Committee, chaired by Orla McManus, meets once a month and the Forum, co-chaired by Minister Healy-Rae and Orla McManus, meets twice a year. On 12th November 2025, all growers were invited to an open meeting of the Forum. Copies of the agenda, presentations and minutes of the meeting are available to download here.
HIF Chairs, Forum and Subcommitee members
Chairperson:
Michael Healy Rae TD (Government), Orla McManus (Industry).
The HIF Forum, chaired by Minister Healy-Rae and Orla McManus, meets twice a year.
The HIF Subcommittee, chaired by Orla McManus, meets once a month.
Subcommittee:
Orla McManus (Chair), Vacancy (Vice Chair), Michael Gaffney (Teagasc), Niamh Brennan (IFA), Robert Malone (IFA), Emer Gallaher Hall (Bord Bia), Lorcan Bourke (Bord Bia), Deirdre Fay (DAFM), Rachel Wisdom (DAFM), Sinead Mulcahy (DAFM), Ciara Daly (DAFM), Tamsen Harward (DAFM).
Horticulture Industry Forum Sector Representatives
The sector representatives can be contacted directly through their HIF email addresses.
Amenity: Val Farrell (B&V Nurseries) amenity@hif.ie
Protected Crops: David Currid (Grantstown Nurseries), Martin Flynn (MF Nurseries) protectedcrops@hif.ie
Field Vegetables: Paul Brophy (Paul Brophy Produce), John Dockrell (John B. Dockrell Ltd) fieldvegetables@hif.ie
Mushrooms: Mark Walsh (Walsh Mushrooms), Gerry Reilly (Reilly Mushrooms) mushrooms@hif.ie
Soft Fruit: Niall Mc Cormack (McCormack’s Fruit Farm), Pat Farrell (Keelings’) softfruit@hif.ie
Top Fruit: Con Traas (The Apple Farm) topfruit@hif.ie
Potatoes: Sean Ryan (Ryans Farm Fresh) potatoes@hif.ie