Taste the Island Buyers Guide 2020

Ireland is considered a global leader in dairy for food safety, sustainability and traceability , with produce reaching 124 countries and exports valued at € 4.4 billion (2019), an 11% growth in value on 2018 The US is the key market for Irish beverage exports, accounting for 40% of the total. Potato production in Ireland is circa 12,000ha with 600 growers involved in commercial production. The value of Irish Seafood exports is € 605m in 2019 employs >14,000 with 2,127 registered fishing vessels IRISH FOOD AND DRINK EXPORTS 2019 estimates on the value of food and drink exports from Ireland is € 13bn [+67% since 2010 ] In 2019, the first full year of trading Irish beef exports to China amounted to 12,000 tonnes, valued at € 31m . Ireland was the first EU country to access China for beef exports (2018). IrishWhiskey exports were valued at € 727m in 2019, a 370% increase since 2010. BEEF AND DAIRY HORTICULTURE SEAFOOD IRISH DRINKS The strawberry is the most popular soft fruit in Ireland, with 57 growers 169 hectares >1,000 employees Ireland exports € 104m of mushrooms Cereals and mushrooms make up the majority of Ireland's horticulture exports. Approx 15% of domestic production of Irish cereals is exported to Northern Ireland. Salmon, mackerel and crab are the top 3 export species Ireland is a recognised leader in organic aquaculture, with 95% or Irish salmon farmed as organic Irish butter recorded € 1.1bn global sales in 2019, growing by 22% to reach € 998m with Kerrygold butter the no.1 branded butter in Germany and the no.2 in the US. France, US and Germany are the top 3 growth markets for Irish cheese exports in 2019 Irish food and drink exports to >180 countries (2019) *Sources: Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara 5 I R I SH FOOD AROUND THE WORLD