Co-operatives announce top-fruit partnership

Two top-fruit co-operatives have merged to create a 16-member group that will span the south-east and east of England.

Top-fruit producer organisations Fruit Growers Alliance (FGA) and Fruitlink (Wisbech) will retain the FGA title and be chaired by former Sherwood Produce MD Hugh Baker.

The newly formed group says it expects to receive European funding in the coming months in order to fund several new UK-based storage facilities.

'By having a long-term strategy, growers can plan investment in new orchards, state-of-the-art equipment and cold storage in order to continue high levels of production while minimising their impact on the environment,' said Baker.

Meanwhile, FGA founder member James Smith believes that partnerships are key for strengthening the supply chain of the UK fresh produce industry.

He said: 'We aim to improve returns to fruit growers by creating a larger presence in the UK fresh produce market and gaining efficiencies alongside our supply-chain partners. Equipment and labour can be shared to reduce costs, and we provide a support network to help face the challenges of an ever-changing marketplace.'

The FGA and Fruitlink (Wisbech) produce a combined total of 11,000 tonnes of apples and pears annually, with a joint turnover of more than £8 million.