The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has expressed its concern over the attitude of retailers and discounters that sell their vegetables and potatoes at cut prices in the run up to Christmas. IFA president John Bryan said, “To be offering fresh Irish vegetables at a price as low as 5 cent per kg, when it costs over ten times that to produce, is morally wrong and has to stop.”
Bryan said that it is unforgivable for the value of growers to be undermined by low prices, when consumers are willing to pay reasonable prices and that coupled with the rising costs of farming, producers are being put under pressure.
Bryan called for a Code of Practice which “has been promised on a number of occasions by this Government, but has yet to happen.” He further added, “Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton had given a commitment recently that we would see legislation approved, but it still has not come before Cabinet. It is inexcusable that this has not been given the priority it deserves.”
© 2013 - Checkout Magazine by Genna Patterson
