In its review of 2002, the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) said it had been working even more closely with government in order to ensure the industry gained as much exposure as possible.

Last year saw the FPC cover many important issues, including increasing consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, managing packaging waste, insisting on strong European representation, import control regulation negotiation, pesticide management and developing an industry solution to gang labour problems.

FPC president Dick Brighten stated: 'Forseeing industry pitfalls and forecasting potential problems while at the same time formulating workable and practical solutions, has always been a challenge for the FPC. These pursuits are as important now as they were when the body was formed almost a decade ago. The going is tough for the fresh produce trade, but it would be a lot tougher if it were not for the intervention of the FPC.' Thinking ahead to 2003, Brighten said this year will see the completion of a number of key components of the FPC's second five-year plan. 'We are experiencing the effects of ongoing rationalisation, consolidation and globalisation,' he explained, 'and this will undoubtedly impact on membership, which is the FPC's main source of income. Currently new membership is being pursued and other methods of income generation are being evaluated.'