Keelings

Keelings contacted Coveney directly as it set up flight for 189 Bulgarian fruit pickers

Tánaiste Simon Coveney was contacted directly by Keelings before the company flew in 189 seasonal workers from Bulgaria during the Covid-19 lockdown, the Irish Independent has confirmed.

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Keelings defends flying in foreign workers

A Fingal fruit and vegetable company has responded to widespread criticism of its decision to fly in foreign staff from Bulgaria to pick fruit on its farm, saying it was essential that the business had 'adequate staffing on the farm to pick crops quickly as they ripen, or we risk shortages in the market'.

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Gallery

Premium

New rules to monitor overseas travellers flying here amid Keelings controversy

All passengers arriving from overseas will be asked to register where they plan to self-isolate under proposals being considered by the Government.

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Gallery

'There's been less interest from Irish people in this work' - Keelings respond to criticism after flying in 189 workers

Since the late 1990s there has been a significant fall-off in interest among Irish people Irish fruit and vegetable season from April to October, Keelings have said.

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Keelings hits back at planners over stalled development

Horticultural company Keelings is in a stand-off with planners over its proposal to build temporary accommodation for hundreds of fruit pickers in north county Dublin.

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The Keelings Family

Keelings dates back to the 1920s when its first crop was rhubarb. It is now the biggest fruit and veg producer and seller in the country with a customer base including Marks & Spencer, SuperValu and Dunnes Stores. Caroline (47) runs the family-owned company, which has sales of more than 300m per year, a massive increase on the 100,000 in revenues it generated during the 1960s. However, the food industry is facing a challenging time due to currency fluctuations.

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Keelings goes organic in terms of growth strategy as convenience rules

Fruit and vegetable company Keelings is going organic for its growth strategy.

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Expansion and technology are really bearing fruit for Keelings

Keelings' first crop of Irish strawberries is already ripe and ready. We are standing in a colossal, super-hi-tech greenhouse the size of five football pitches, sampling a big, ripe, luscious fruit straight off one of a line of plants stretching to vanishing point.