Ten years ago the carbon tax was top of the agenda. The press were reporting that mushroom farms were going to wall on the back of the new carbon tax being introduced in Ireland.
Spool forward ten years and the programme for government in Ireland is currently under review, with the Green Party in the ascendant.
Plus ca change and all that. Back in 2010 farms minister Brendan Smith was welcoming EU funding toward the €2.6 million Bord Bia More To Mushrooms promotion of mushrooms in Britain. In June 2000 there was a new Fancom fermentation computer on the go, Sylvan were receiving their Guaranteed Irish mark.
Also,Teagasc were engaged in a big move, shifting their research laboratory from Kinsealy to Ashtown.
One of the lead articles in June 1990 was entitled Practical Aspects of Virus Control by Miss A. O’Brien then of Darmycel UK - sounds topical today.
Back then mushrooms were the third most popular vegetable in the UK according to the front page report, behind potatoes and peas!
Promotional activity for marketing mushrooms was estimated to have cost around £250k for the year in the UK - shows how far the money went in those days.
