CONSUMER STRATERGY GROUP REPORT

April 2005.

(Fruit & Vegetables, Pages 23 & 100)

Chapter 3: The Retail Sector

Chapter 3.3 Fruit & Vegetables

Unlike other European countries, fruit and vegetable markets are not a significant channel for fresh produce sales. The operation of such markets is governed by the Casual Trading Act,1995. In 2002, the Competition Authority undertook a study to investigate how the Act had been implemented by local authorities and to examine its effects on competition in local markets. It found a lack of consistency in the implementation of the Act, notably large variations in fees, differences in the levels of facilities being provided and the provision of pitches that were too small for traders’ stalls.

Fruit and Vegetables: Conclusions

Irish consumers do not just want low cost produce; they also want choice and quality. Consumer tastes and demands as well as production costs and population size are all determining factors in the final price that consumers pay for fruit and vegetables. The Irish retail fruit and vegetable market is moderately concentrated with three quarters of produce sold in the multiples. Unlike other European countries, fruit and vegetable markets are not a significant channel for fresh produce sales.

Chapter 17: Recommendations and Action Plan – page 100.

Page 23, Fruit and Vegetables

1) Increase the number of licences granted to traders.

(Responsibility: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.)

2) Apply a consistent approach to casual trading regulations across all local authorities by means of statutory based guidelines. This may require an amendment to the Casual Trading Act of 1995.