Cost of growing Irish carrots has doubled since 2020

…yet prices have risen just 40%

Growers say Ireland’s favourite vegetable is being sold below sustainable levels

Irish carrot growers are warning that the economics of producing Ireland’s favourite vegetable are becoming increasingly unsustainable, with production costs rising by approximately 100% since 2020 while retail carrot prices have increased by just 40% over the same period. Faced with rising production costs, unsustainable market returns and increasing climate-related challenges, including recent drought conditions, growers warn that urgent action is needed to ensure the long-term viability of Ireland’s favourite vegetable.

The Irish Carrot Growers Group represents more than 95% of Ireland’s retail carrot supply. The sector now comprises just nine commercial growers following the recent loss of a major producer that accounted for approximately 12% of national output.

Below sustainable cost

A kilogram of carrots currently retails for approximately €1.39. With an average kilogram containing around ten carrots, this equates to less than 14 cent per carrot. Growers estimate that a retail price of €1.98 per kilogram would be needed to track the cost against the Consumer Price Index (CPI) alone, which equates to approximately 20 cent per carrot, or a modest increase of just 6c per carrot.

This doesn’t however take into account the exceptional pressures of the current season or the substantial increases in costs that have occurred above general consumer inflation. These additional costs include significant increases in labour and material inputs, the growing impact of permanent climate change, tighter European restrictions and regulatory requirements. The growers’ position is that these are not simply inflationary pressures captured by the CPI. They represent real, sector-specific increases in the cost and complexity of producing carrots in Ireland.

Drought Impact

The pressure has intensified as growers manage one of the driest summers in recent years. Drought conditions have increased the need for irrigation by approximately 166%, adding significantly to fuel, labour and operational costs. According to Teagasc, input costs for field vegetable production increased by 77% between 2020 and January 2026, while a survey of Irish carrot growers indicates that drought-related pressures have added a further 13% increase to input costs during the current season which translates into a 23% increase in marketable production costs (€/t) for this period.

Tom Murray, Chair of the Irish Carrot Growers Group said, “Consumers see carrots as one of the most affordable and healthy foods available, and rightly so. However, the reality is that the current economics of producing carrots in Ireland no longer makes sense. The gap between production costs and returns has widened significantly over recent years and that is putting real pressure on growers.

Ireland is fortunate to have highly skilled carrot growers but the challenge now is ensuring that domestic production remains financially viable and that the next generation of growers has confidence to continue investing in the sector.”

Carrots remain Ireland’s most purchased vegetable, with retail sales of approximately 52,000 tonnes annually and a retail market value of approximately €66 million. Irish growers currently produce approximately 62,000 tonnes of carrots annually on 891 hectares nationwide.

Climate resilience and food security

Climate change is adding another layer of pressure to an already challenging production environment. Following previous drought events, growers have invested heavily in irrigation equipment, water storage and other resilience measures. However, increasingly frequent extreme weather events are requiring further investment simply to maintain reliable domestic production.

At the same time, European restrictions on pesticide use and expanding national and EU regulatory requirements are changing the way crops can be grown and increasing the resources required to produce them.

John Dockrell, Vice-Chair of the Irish Carrot Growers Group, said: “Climate events that were once considered unusual are becoming increasingly common. Growers are investing heavily in irrigation infrastructure, water storage and other resilience measures, while also adapting to changes in crop protection and regulatory requirements. All of this requires significant capital and, critically, confidence that there will be a sustainable return on that investment.

“Food security is not simply about having food available today. It is about retaining the growers, skills, infrastructure and investment needed to continue producing food in Ireland in the years ahead.

“Ireland currently imports approximately 18,000 to 20,000 tonnes of carrots annually. Maintaining a strong domestic sector therefore matters. Consumers want to buy Irish and support local growers, but that can only happen if domestic production remains economically viable.”