Jimmy Kearns of Kearns Fruit Farm near Enniscorthy has been growing fresh, delicious and premium quality Wexford strawberries for over 50 years. He is joined in the family-run business by his wife Susan, son Noel, daughter Patricia , son-in-law and 1996 Wexford All-Ireland winning hurling goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry, sales manager Patrick Doyle and up to 95 staff at peak times.
Wexford is synonymous with strawberries. The mild climate of the ‘Sunny South East’ makes for optimal strawberry growing conditions. One of Ireland’s leading strawberry producers, Jimmy Kearns has seen many changes over the years. Traceability and sustainability have become major factors in the purchasing decision of modern-day consumers, and Jimmy and his highly-skilled team are leading the way in this regard.
Jimmy was in his early teens when he lost both of his parents, Margaret and Pat, within the space of 10 months. Pat had started the business in the early 1950s and a young Jimmy was left to take up the reins. More than half a century later, Jimmy is still going strong, growing strawberries and raspberries in the shadow of Mount Leinster in heated and cold glasshouses, and in polytunnels.
The fresh strawberries and raspberries are supplied to multiples such as Dunnes Stores, Musgraves and Lidl as well as wholesalers, restaurants and hotels.
“Strawberries account for about 98% of our business,” the affable commercial grower says.
“Like many growers in the area at the time, my father initially grew strawberries for jam production. The likes of Chivers and Robinsons had factories in the area who all the local growers supplied their strawberries to. But since they closed, the number of growers has fallen dramatically.
“We have stayed going, thank God, and grow about 80% of our own produce. We produce up to 50 tonnes of strawberries a week at the height of the season. This is topped up by strawberries from other local growers.
“We take great pride in everything we produce and are members of both the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme and the Good Food Ireland Initiative and the Wexford Food Family.”
Strawberries are grown for seven months of the year, while raspberries have a shorter time frame of three months. The process begins in December when strawberries are planted in heated glass. The first of the 60-day crops are planted in March for July picking when the main crop also arrives. Raspberries are planted at the end of March and are harvested 10 weeks later. Kearns Fruit Farm plants strawberries every two weeks from March onwards. In total, over one million strawberry plants are planted each year in Curraghgraigue.
When we spoke to Jimmy in March, he was hoping for a fine summer after a wet winter and spring.
“Every year is different,” he points out.
“Whereas growing conditions were excellent in 2025, this year hasn’t got off to a great start. Hopefully, we’ll make up for it with a good summer. Growing isn’t manufacturing – you just can’t press a button. We’re at the mercy of the weather and that’s just the way it is.
“Thanks to polytunnels and temperature-control technology, the season is longer than it used to be, but you need the weather too. It’s all about having the right volume of fruit every day for your retail partners and trying not to peak. We’re always planning and making strategies to have fruit every day of the year. It’s a delicate balancing act because fruit can’t be stored like potatoes.”
Kearns Fruit Farm employs over 30 full-time staff and up to 95 at the height of the season. The farm houses numerous tunnels and glasshouses as well as a state-of-the-art packhouse. There is also an array of machinery to carry out the various tasks, and vehicles to undertake deliveries.
The company is constantly investing in its people, equipment and facilities. Its commitment to sustainability is reflected in a €2.55 million investment in a new heated greenhouse with biomass and gas burners. The 11,000m2 greenhouse features an integrated screen system, heating installation, irrigation setup, growing in gutters and water tanks.
“This investment has allowed us to double our heated glass from one to two hectares, and will ensure a more sustainable future,” Jimmy adds.
“We use the biomass burner two-thirds of the time and the gas burner only when the glasshouse requires it. It’s a very environmentally-friendly system. There were different elements to the project. The glasshouse was supplied and installed by KG Greenhouses who we’ve used before. Vicarda installed the gas burner and the piping for the biomass burner, Clearpower installed the biomass burner, Hoogendoorn installed the software that operates the house and Trintech looked after the irrigation install.
“We also plan to install solar panels this year which we hope will reduce our electricity costs by 50-60%.”
Patrick Doyle recently joined Kearns Fruit Farm as sales manager and is determined to keep the third-generation family business on an upward trajectory.
“Our aim is to improve yields, continue on a growth path, improve sustainability and maintain a good working relationship with our customers,” he says.
Quality and freshness continue to be the number one goal for the Kearns Fruit Farm team. Buying Irish strawberries means that, as well as supporting a locally grown product and local industry, consumers also benefit from the nutritional and health benefits of this delicious fruit. Strawberries are a versatile fruit which are naturally high in Vitamins C and K, and are also an excellent source of fibre, folic acid and phytonutrients known as anthocyanins, which give them their vibrant red colour.
Jimmy and Susan would like to take this opportunity to thank their customers and suppliers for their continued support as well as their dedicated team for their passion, hard work and expertise.
Kearns Fruit Farm
Curraghgraigue,
Enniscorthy,
Co. Wexford.
Telephone: 053 925 5495
Email: [email protected]
First published in Grocery & Retail Ireland magazine Vol 5 No 2, Summer 2026
