Sector Summary
The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM) sources estimate that the Horticulture Industry was worth €521m (farm gate value) in 2021, which is the 4th highest sector in terms of gross agricultural commodity output value – only Beef, Dairy and Pigs are larger. Horticulture Food represented €417m and Amenity Horticulture €104m respectively of the €521m total. Within Horticulture Food output, Mushrooms accounted for €127.7m with Potatoes €117m, Field Vegetables €84.4m, Protected Crops €80m. In relation to Amenity output, Nursery Stock represented €51m, Protected Crops €25.2m, Christmas Trees €10m, Cut Foliage Outdoor Flowers & Bulbs €10m and Turf Grass €1.5m.
Domestic Growth
There has been a continual reduction in the number of produce growers over the past two decades. For example, the number of Field Vegetable growers fell from 377 in 1999 to 215 in 2008 and to 165 in 2014 according to the most recent National Field Vegetable Census. This represents a drop of 56% in the number of commercial growers over a 15-year period since 1999. However, those remaining in production have broadly maintained the same level of output. In total, across the industry there is estimated to be about 1,000 growers currently in commercial production.
Export Markets Growth
The majority of horticulture output in Ireland is consumed in the country. Just two sectors have a significant export trade. Mushroom exports constitute 42% of edible horticulture exports from Ireland. Mushroom exports to the UK were worth €151 million, up 18% from 2020.
Amenity Horticulture producers exported a total farm gate value of €19.7m, up from €17m in 2020. This was comprised of €8m of Hardy Nursery Stock, €2.1m of Bulbs & Cut Flowers, €6m of Cut Foliage and €3.6m of Christmas Trees. The UK is still the biggest market for Irish amenity exports, and growing. The UK is the only major destination for these exports and work continues for producers in diversifying away from that market.
Trends
Fresh Produce Retail Market
The Retail Fresh Produce Market was worth €1.65bn for the 52 weeks to June 22nd 2022 with Vegetables accounting for €605m Fruit €811m and Potatoes €232m. The retail value of prepared Fruit and Vegetables combined was €137m.
Food Service Market
The Fresh Produce Food Service Market was worth €4.5bn in 2020.
Amenity Retail Market
The Retail Amenity Market was worth €1.5 billion in the measure from January to December 2021, which represented an increase of 26% on the comparable figure from 2020, and the highest ever since the Celtic Tiger era. Outdoor & Flowering Plants €271m, Fresh Cut Flowers €132m, Indoor Potted Plants €51m an increase of 38% since the previous measure. Consumer spend on Landscaping Services saw an increase of 63% with a value of €268m.
Amenity Services Market
This market has two elements, domestic services and commercial services. It is estimated that the domestic services market will be worth a total of €136m in the year ending December 2018, which would represent an increase of almost 10% on the estimated value of €124m for 2016. There are four main service type categories in this market and their estimated values for 2018 are Garden Design €17m, Garden Maintenance €52m, Garden Makeover €38 and Tree Surgeon €30m. The commercial landscaping services market recovered slowly after the recession to achieve a value of circa €200m in 2019.
