As we move into British Food Fortnight, we have something of a British-themed issue for you this week.
With such an emphasis on retail, growers would do well to consider the benefits of the wholesale sector, where traders are understood to be keen to source more UK product.
The rise of eating out, popularity of celebrity chefs and, from a trade perspective, the success of dynamic companies like Fresh Direct, Reynolds and Total Produce, shows what can be achieved.
Market specialist Nicholas Saphir, author of the seminal 2002 review, outlines his vision for what the sector will look like in future on p18.
He envisions markets evolving into ‘food parks’ - modern, vibrant destinations where not just the trade but the wider public can visit and sample the fantastic range of fresh food on offer. We are already seeing that kind of evolution taking place at New Covent Garden Market, where the redevelopment is designed to appeal not just to caterers and chefs but the London public as well.
Certainly the government has laid down some hugely optimistic targets for increasing British self-sufficiency. As our analysis on p16 shows, there are signs of progress with overall domestic production actually increasing last year, but there’s still an incredibly long way to go. Some sectors, particularly veg and some salad crops, are really struggling, and only better returns will help reverse the alarming decline.
But there is a general will towards increasing home sourcing that should stand the industry in good stead.
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