Learn more about some of our favourite Irish fruit farms
While there are approximately 139,600 farms in Ireland*, only a portion of these are dedicated to producing fresh fruit. We want to draw attention to a number of Irish fruit farms who are doing some fantastic work out there!
Production of fruit, vegetables and plants in Ireland plays a very important role in the economy with a farmgate value of €400 million*. The Irish soft fruit industry is particularly strong with a value of over €43 million. That’s a lot of berries!
Lambert’s Fruit Farm – Lambert’s farm is unique in the fact that it is one of the only farms left in the country where the public can pick their own fruit! This practice has slowly died out over the years so it’s great to see someone still carrying the tradition on. Learn more about the farm and keep up-to-date with their open days on their Facebook page.
Keelings – Keelings is one of the most famous farms in the country. Almost every supermarket you visit will likely stock some of their produce. Founded in 1926, this farm first specialised in rhubarb before expanding to strawberries, Bramleys and all the other fruit and veg you’ve come to love from them.
Greens Berry Farm – based in Gorey, Co. Wexford, Greens Berry’s produce is picked and sold daily, with 50% of their produce being sold directly from their farm shops! They now have two farm shops, both of which are open during the summer but have different opening times. Be sure to check their website before you go to taste some of their fantastic fruit.
Kearns Fruit Farm – also based in Co. Wexford, this Enniscorthy farm is a family-run business operated by Jim and Susan, son Noel, daughter Patricia and son-in-law Damien. They first began producing strawberries in the mid 1950’s and supplied the world famous Chivers Jam. Since then, they have become one of the largest strawberry producing farms in Ireland and most recently became a supplier for SuperValu.
Clarke’s Fresh Fruit – are you a fan of jam? If so, you’ll be delighted to hear that this Bord Bia quality assured soft fruit producer has recently launched a premium jam range made only with fresh fruit from their family farm! This Co. Meath farm boasts 60 acres of land on which they grow strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Pat Clarke, owner, was the first person to introduce the Elsanta variety of strawberries to Ireland back in 1983! How about that for a piece of trivia?
Malone Fruit Farm – Tom and Elizabeth Malone first bought two acres of land in 1988 to provide employment for their teenage family. In the years since, the farm has grown to 12 acres. Furthermore, it now has a purpose built kitchen where they produce a variety of jams, marmalades, chutneys, cordials and more! If you’d like to get your hands on any of these and support a local business, you can visit their farm shop in Ballon, Co.Carlow.
Promoting healthy eating, local businesses and the value of fruit is a big part of why The Fruit People exists, which is why we decided to write this blog post. Visiting these Irish fruit farms and their shops is a fantastic day out, especially in this fantastic weather! Don’t forget to mention to them who sent you there (hint, hint)
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