Emmett Dunne, of Leo Dunne Ltd and Ó Duinn Organacha, Co Laois

The Dunne family have been growing vegetables in Durrow, Co Laois, and the surrounding area for four generations and they have become synonymous with producing high quality carrots.

They began Organic Production in 2000. In total, Emmett has 550 acres of land in his organic rotation, the majority through long term leasing, which also includes 150 acres of winter and spring oats, 70 acres of beans and 75 acres in clover. “Accessing certified organic land suitable for vegetable growing can be challenging but we work well with other farmers in the locality, including tillage and sheep farmers, who utilise our crops as break crops in their own rotations.”

Field Scale Vegetables and Tillage

“Crop planning is vital in the seven year rotation, including cover crops, for managing soil fertility and weeds, pests and diseases,” says Emmett. Supermarkets are the main route to market. “Dunnes Stores have been very committed in their continued support of our organic produce,” says Emmett. Wholesale is another important market channel and Emmett works closely with a number of other organic growers and fresh produce partners for retailers. In addition to own grown organic crops, certified organic produce is sourced from outside Ireland for continuity of supply.

Organic oats are produced for Flahavan’s. The company employs 30 packhouse staff and seven full-time farm staff with an additional 15 workers hired for weeding and five for planting during the growing season. Coupled with the multi-generational knowledge and experience that has been amassed over the years, there has been significant investment in mechanisation (e.g. a fleet of tractors, GPS guidance systems, camera-guided weeder, self-propelled and trailed harvesters), storage and packhouse facilities with innovative equipment for washing, grading, sorting and packing. Leo Dunne Ltd. and O’Duinn Organacha are accredited by Bord Bia Sustainable Horticulture Assurance Scheme.