The closure of Julian Hughes’s carrot production enterprise in Kilkenny earlier this year means that there are only nine commercial carrot growers left in the country, and they are warning that the economics of producing the vegetable are becoming increasingly unsustainable. Production costs have risen by almost 100 per cent since 2020 while retail carrot prices have increased by just 40 per cent over the same period. Faced with rising production costs, unsustainable market returns and increasing climate-related challenges, including recent drought conditions, growers are warning that urgent action is needed to ensure that a native supply of the vegetable is maintained.
A one-kilogramme (kg) bag of carrots currently retails for around €1.39. With an average bag containing around 10 carrots, this works out at less than 14 cent per carrot. Growers estimate that a retail price of €1.98/kg would be needed to track the cost against the Consumer Price Index (CPI) alone, which equates to 20c per carrot. The pressure has intensified as growers experience one of the driest summers in recent years. Drought conditions have increased the need for irrigation, adding significantly to fuel, labour, and operational costs. According to Teagasc, input costs for field vegetable production increased by 77 per cent between 2020 and January 2026, while drought-related pressures have added a further 13 per cent increase to input costs in the current season.
Carrots remain Ireland’s most purchased vegetable, with retail sales of almost 52,000 tonnes annually and a retail market value of €66m. Irish growers currently produce up to 62,000 tonnes of carrots annually on 891 hectares.
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