10 trade bodies unite to send message to goverment about supporting domestic production
Britain’s fruit and vegetable growers have called on health secretary Wes Streeting to put homegrown produce at the heart of the country’s health transformation.
The producers have written a letter to the secretary of state in the wake of the announcement of the government’s Good Food Cycle and as it takes the first steps on its 10-Year Health Plan for England,
The letter is signed by the chairmen or CEO of 10 trade bodies – the NFU Horticulture Board, British Growers Association, British Berry Growers, British Apples and Pears, Tomato Growers Association, GB Potatoes, British Onions, British Carrot Growers Association, Brassica Growers Association, and Asparagus Growers Association.
The grower representatives warned that vital funding for British fruit and vegetable production – the PO scheme – is due to expire this year, with no replacement in place. While growers in the EU, Scotland and Wales will continue receiving this support, those in England risk being left behind, they stressed.
Meanwhile, one in 10 children don’t know where carrots come from, highlighting a growing disconnect between young people and their food.
NFU Horticulture & Potatoes Board chair Martin Emmett said: “To truly ‘make the healthy choice the easy choice’, as the government has pledged and is also a core part of the government’s food strategy, the UK must ensure a reliable, affordable, and healthy supply of fresh produce. That means backing domestic growers.
“British growers produce to world-leading standards, and growing food domestically is key to helping the next generation understand where their food comes from. Yet right now, just 17 per cent of the fruit and 53 per cent of the vegetables we eat are grown in the UK. That’s a huge, missed opportunity.”
The grower groups stressed that the government’s health ambitions cannot be met without a strong horticulture sector, yet the sector has faced continued economic shocks, planning barriers, supply chain uncertainty and extreme weather events. To truly boost confidence and meet the government’s ambition that requires long-term investment in homegrown produce, they added.
“Our horticulture growth strategy lays out the foundations for success,” Emmett said, referring to the NFU’s blueprint for the industry. “We’re ready to grow more, produce more, and help turn the tide on diet-related illness. But we need government backing to do it.
“We urge the health secretary to work closely with Defra and industry leaders to unlock the potential of British horticulture and help deliver on the government’s vision for a healthier England.”
