Keelings Salads has won the Bord Bia Best Grower of the Year Award, presented to the growers that best represents exceptional standards in production and handling of fresh produce.
Keelings pepper growing unit, comprises five hectares of high-technology glasshouse facilities. “For the first time Ireland now has the capacity to grown its own peppers at a standard that can effectively compete with the best at international level,” the company said.
Keelings produces green, red, yellow and orange peppers in one unit, heated by natural gas. “Approximately 43.5 per cent of the carbon dioxide emissions generated are absorbed by the pepper plants in the growing process. We produce approximately 1,500 tonnes of peppers every year. This takes about 124 trucks off our roads annually that would traditionally have been used to import peppers from Holland and Spain. This equates to saving approximately 136,200 food miles, which reduces carbon emissions by 7,782.86kg per annum. It was for this award winning facility that Keelings were presented with this prestigious award,” said a statement.
Keelings, established 60 years ago by Joe’ Keeling’s mother and father William and Christine, is still a family run company. Joe Keeling is chairman of Keelings Group, while daughter Caroline is the group managing director, his son David is the managing director of Farms and William is the managing director of the UK business.
Pictured above right, at the Bord Bia National Horticultural Food Quality Awards in Dublin are Angela Kennedy, chairman, Bord Bia, Andrew Wilson, general manager Keelings Salads, Caroline Keeling and David Keeling, Keelings Salads, and Brendan Smith, minister of state at the Irish department of agriculture and food.
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