Europrise History

Many  growers still fondly remember Frank O’Dowd who set up the original seed company at Blakes Cross in North County Dublin. It was part of the old North Dublin Growers Cooperative complex which opened in 1965.

In the 1970s he was issuing newsletters with lists of varieties and advice to growers. His October 1972 edition advised  growers to “please give a try to those newcomers to the very early market (after the Spring Greens) such as Hispi.” On carrots it suggested “those interested in early market work should grow Nantes 370 which was outstanding in the Kinsealy trials this season on its first appearance.”

North Dublin Growers Co-op 1983

Frank O’Dowd died tragically in a drowning accident in 1974. His daughter Elizabeth O’Dowd took over the business. In 1977 Mary Hill joined the company and two years later Bejo Zaden emerged as the new owners. On 23rd January 1980 the name Europrise Company was registered in the Irish Companies Office for the first time.

Europrise Office 2008

In 1983  Mary Hill was appointed as Managing Director and has headed the company since then. In 1986 a prefabricated building was erected on the site. This stood until Christmas 1995 when the present offices were officially opened.