Growing together to strengthen Northern Ireland's horticulture sector
NI Horticulture PO was established in 2025 as a recognised Producer Organisation, created to give Northern Ireland’s horticulture growers a stronger, unified position in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Our members produce a diverse range of fresh, local crops — from mushrooms and apples to strawberries and field vegetables — and work collectively to build a more resilient, modern and sustainable future for the sector.
As a Producer Organisation, our role is to support growers, strengthen supply chain relationships, improve production standards, and help Northern Ireland’s horticulture industry compete with the very best across the UK, Ireland and Europe.
We work with commercial growers across Northern Ireland, providing practical, strategic and technical support that strengthens their businesses day?to?day and long?term. Our members benefit from:
Coordinated production and demand planning
Shared expertise across crops, techniques and technology
Consistency in quality, grading, and post?harvest handling
Support to meet retailer, wholesale and food?service standards
Access to innovation, training, technical assistance and environmental improvements
Improved market visibility and stronger collective representation
By connecting growers with packers, processors, distributors and supply?chain partners, we help create a more coordinated, efficient route from farm to customer.
Our Producer Organisation model allows growers to collaborate on planning, production, quality assurance, marketing and sustainability. This collective approach strengthens our members' position in a competitive market, opens access to investment and innovation, and supports the long?term resilience of the sector.
Since the UK’s departure from the EU, DAERA has continued to honour commitments under the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme (FVAS), which provides support to recognised Producer Organisations. Operating within this framework allows NI Horticulture PO to invest in modernisation, efficiency, environmental performance, and improved grower returns.
