Berry Research !

Ireland: Sector Analysis

Strawberry (89% of Sector Value)

MetricValue
Production Value€47 Million
Annual Production8,000 tonnes
Production Area169 hectares
Yield47.3 tonnes / hectare
Labor Cost€900 per tonne
Picking Time120-140 hours per tonne
Protected Production91% under cover
Season Length8 months (Mar-Nov)
The strawberry sector accounts for 89% of Ireland's total soft fruit value and employs over 1,000 people.

Secondary Crops

MetricValue
Raspberry Value€4 Million
Raspberry Area19.8 hectares
Raspberry Protected Production80% under tunnels
Raspberry Season Length7 months (May-Oct)
Blueberry Value€1 Million
Blueberry Area~5 hectares (est.)
Blackberry Area~3 hectares (est.)

EU: Production Leaders by Volume

Blueberry Production (161,700t Total)
Poland
45,300t
Germany
32,100t
Italy
25,800t
UK
18,700t
Netherlands
8,100t

The Netherlands saw production double in 15 years despite a 15% acreage reduction.

Raspberry Production (157,400t Total)
Poland
65,200t
UK
22,300t
Italy
18,900t
Germany
15,800t

Poland dominates raspberry processing, producing most of Europe's frozen raspberries and concentrates.

Blackberry Production (28,800t Total)
Poland
8,900t
UK
5,200t
Italy
4,800t

Blackberry production in the EU is limited compared to other berries, with Poland being the largest producer.

Operational Efficiency: Waste & Labor

Strawberry Loss Breakdown

36%
15%
10%
11%
9%
Unharvested
Marketable/Unharvested
Non-Marketable/Edible
Inedible
Retail Loss
Harvested & Sold

Berry-Specific Damage Mechanisms

  • Blackberries: Face red drupelet reversion (up to 85%), mechanical damage, and leakiness from compression.
  • Blueberries: Lowest waste rates (5% in Dutch chains) with primary issues being stem damage and compression.
  • Raspberries: Suffer from crushing due to fragility and require immediate cooling.
Blackberry Loss Rate 75%
Blueberry Loss Rate 34%

Labor Analysis

In Ireland, labor accounts for 43% of total production costs.

Picking Time & Costs (per Tonne)

Berry TypeHours & Cost
Strawberries120-140 hrs €900
Raspberries150-180 hrs €1,200
Blackberries180-220 hrs €1,400-1,500
Blueberries180-220 hrs €1,400-1,500

Hand-Picking Requirement

Raspberries
98%
Strawberries
95%
Blackberries
95%
Blueberries
70%
Labor cost inflation has increased by 12-25% between 2021-2024, significantly impacting production costs.

Economic Outlook & Industry Challenges

Market Valuations

RegionValue
Ireland€52 Million | 1,000+ jobs
EU (Estimate)€2.8 Billion
USA (Blueberries)$1.1 Billion
The Irish berry sector has significant growth potential, particularly in blueberry and blackberry production which currently have limited commercial presence.

Primary Headwinds

  • Labor Cost Inflation+12-25% (2021-24)
  • Seasonal Worker Shortages25-35% impact
  • Quality Spec WastageDrives 10-15% loss
  • Energy Cost Increases+40% in 3 years
  • Retail Price Pressure5-10% margin squeeze
Data Sources & References