Beet producers shut Irish plants

22 November 2001



Beet producers shut Irish plants

By FWi staff

A FIGHT for higher beet prices by farmers in Ireland has closed down two major
processing plants, threatening 650 jobs and the future of the sugar industry.

Crops are deteriorating as growers withhold supplies leading the Irish Sugar Company to warn that stocks will soon be exhausted.

Frantic efforts are under way to try to find a solution. The situation is absolutely critical, the Irish High Court was told on Wednesday (November 21).

The showdown over prices started two weeks ago, when 4000 growers, claiming
higher production costs, demanded a IR1/t increase on the IR3.50/t they
receive.

The sugar company, a subsidiary of Greencore, refused, insisting it
already pays one of the highest beet prices in Europe.