Seanad debates
Wednesday, 2 July 2003
Common Agricultural Policy: Statements.
Quality is a sine qua non. It was stated at the outset of the Common Market that all the tomato production would move to the Mediterranean countries and leave Holland, as it was based on expensive fuel in Holland and could not compete with outdoor tomatoes in the Mediterranean region. What was the outcome? The Dutch tomato industry survived and prospered because even then people were prepared to pay for quality, which is what they wanted. That is something we have to keep firmly in our minds.
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