Apples are among the most widely consumed fruits in Ireland.

However, more than 90% of the apples available on the Irish market are currently imported due to limited domestic commercial production.

The main countries that Ireland imports its apples from are: France, Germany, South Africa, Chile, and the UK.

In order to help strengthen national production, Teagasc has established an applied apple research programme, with the aim of making apple production more attractive to growers and to increase the supply of high-quality, Irish-grown apples.

The research programme is focusing on developing a competitive and sustainable apple sector that is adapted to Irish growing conditions.

A key part of this work involves the long-term evaluation of the agronomic performance and fruit quality of the more than 50 apple varieties grown in Ireland.

The objective is to identify varieties that meet the quality standards required for commercial production.

Consumer preferences

According to Teagasc, understanding consumer preferences is a key element of its vital research.

According to Teagasc, identifying what Irish consumers look for when buying and eating apples is "essential to ensure that future varietal and production choices align with market expectations".

To address this, a national consumer survey is being conducted to assess apple consumption habits, purchasing behaviour, and the attributes most sought after at the point of purchase.

The survey forms part of the PhD research of Jean do Prado, based at Teagasc in collaboration with Atlantic Technological University (ATU), and represents an important step into linking fruit quality data with consumer expectations.

A further consumer-focused stage that will involve the tasting and evaluation of different apple varieties, will take place at a later stage of the project.

The survey is available on the Teagasc website and is open to adults based in Ireland who consume apples, either occasionally or regularly.