The CEO of Bord Bia Tara McCarthy talking on RTÉ radio this month indicated her opinion on what food industry companies should be doing in the face of Brexit.
Basically she said that companies need to diversify where their products go to as a matter of urgency.
"Absolute urgency is needed from the food industry to diversify (where our produce goes). We have been doing it for years but now we must do so with more urgency," she said, "Brexit is the single biggest strategic challenge that the Irish food industry has faced." Speaking about the challenges the food industry has already faced due to the Brexit vote, she said:
"The mushroom industry was probably hit the hardest. They are operating in a low-margin business, with the UK market so important to the industry," She indicated that the currency volatility severely affected incomes from mushroom production.
In the radio interview it was highlighted that by adding value to Irish products, like adding Vitamin D to fresh mushrooms, the country opens up opportunities for produce to penetrate into new markets.
There was also mention of a trade visit to Saudi Arabia, but an acknowledgement that that Kingdom will not serve as a direct substitute for the United Kingdom.
