Staff peeled enough potatoes to feed 10,000 people over Christmas

STAFF of one of the last remaining independent fruit and vegetable shops in Tallaght peeled two tonnes of potatoes during the Christmas season for their prepared veg range.

Castletymon Fruit and Veg has been in business for the last 25 years, and its staff of six is winding down from working 15-hour days to keep up with demand during the festive period.

The owner of the shop, Greg Conway, estimates that the potatoes he and his staff peeled fed 10,000 people and trade was slightly up compared to Christmas 2022.

“We do a full range of prepared veg and Christmas is particularly busy,” Greg told The Echo.

“It was quite hectic.

“We peeled two tonnes, or about 2,000 kilogrammes of potatoes – enough potatoes to feed 10,000 people.

“During the Christmas period, we work 15- to 16-hour days, and this year was particularly hard because we had to keep prices down but items like broccoli and cauliflower were in short supply, so it was more expensive to buy.

“It’s very, very hard work – your costs are going up and your margins are going down all the time.”

He added: “This Christmas was slightly up on the Christmas before it, probably because we’re doing a good job and people wouldn’t come back if we weren’t doing our job right.”

The shop continues to have a steady trade, but Greg said the rise in low-price fruit and vegetables in major supermarket chains is a constant concern for a small local business.

“I saw a sign in Templeogue that said, ‘Buy local or bye, bye local’, and that’s true,” said Greg.

“This is a local community, so people like to come and go to their local shop and have a chat.”

During the summer, the shop’s big sellers are salads, items like lettuce and tomatoes, while during winter more hearty vegetables like potatoes, carrots and parsnips are in most customer’s baskets.

When asked what makes Castletymon Fruit and Veg stand out compared to other shops, Greg said factors such as familiar staff, prepared meals and being able to buy by weight are key.

“You can come in here and buy 50 cent worth of potatoes, you don’t need to buy a bag of potatoes and then throw half of them in the bin,” he said.

The continued success of the shop is evident in the continued trade it attracts and its popularity in the area, and Greg said he believes the simplicity his shop provides keeps people coming back.

“It takes the hassle out of cooking,” he said referring to the shop’s prepared veg.

“When they get home they can have a good quality, filling dinner ready-to-go in the pot.”