'Four hours and all our beetroot is harvested': Cork crisp company thanks public after crop is saved 

A Cork crisp company who yesterday issued an urgent appeal to locals for support amid fears they would lose one of their crops, has thanked the public for their response which meant the crop has now been fully harvested. 

Yesterday, the Burns Family, who run Joe’s Farm Crisps in Killeagh, issued an appeal to locals for support following a devastating failed beetroot harvest. 

Sandra Burns had said the only way left to save the acre long stretch of beetroot was to pick the plant by hand, following the recent and unprecedented heavy rain that has wreaked havoc in local communities. 

Ms Burns had explained that they were up against the clock to save the beetroot in light of expected frost next week and had said the only route left was to pick the plant by hand or be left without beetroot or vegetables until this time next year.

Speaking to the Echo yesterday, Sandra said: “We know tractors won’t be able to get it out and we have Christmas orders waiting to go. There is a lot of panic. Rain is forecast for next week. If any frost arrived it will just take it overnight. Normally, it’s all taken out in October. It’s about a month late coming out but this is because of the rain. We were hoping that the ground would dry up and we’d get in but it’s just not happening.” 

Following their appeal, the Cork company was contacted with many offers for help from the local community with transition year students from the nearby secondary school even volunteering to come out on Monday. 

In an update on social media today, Joe's Crisps said that following an "unbelievable response", all of the beetroot had been harvested. 

"Four hours and all of our beetroot is harvested. A huge thank you," the post on Facebook said.