The annual fair brings together key industry leaders and it is an excellent opportunity to showcase Irish produce and reduce the importation of nursery produce.
The IHNSA Trolley Fairs are supported by IFA and Bord Bia, and offers traders a chance to meet growers and industry experts. The event marks the start of hardy nursey stock trade and it is highly regarded in the industry.
IHNSA chairman Val Farrell has called on all garden centres and retailers to support the Irish Amenity Sector. He said the amenity sector is an important indigenous sector worth €77 million at farm gate of which nursery stocks account for over €50m.
“There are many challenges facing the industry at present such as peat availability, spiralling input costs, labour shortages and market disruptions,” Val Farrell said.
“It is clear that the importance and potential of the Irish amenity horticultural sector is recognised in official policy strategy. However, if the above issues are not addressed the plans will not materialise and a considerable opportunity will be lost for rural Ireland,” he added.