Fruit and vegetable producers have rejected the proposals made by the Radcliffe Review into the levy bodies, according to the Horticulture Development Council.
The HDC said it was pleased with the level of industry response during the reviews consultation period, claiming it had received a “small telephone book’s worth” of respondents rejecting the reviews proposals.
It said the overwhelming grower response mirrors the HDC's concerns that horticulture is different from agriculture and the HDC should to be left as it is to remain clearly focussed on the horticultural industry and its specific needs.
Growers also echoed its disbelief that any of the so-called recommendations (reduced costs, greater accountability, etc) would be achieved for horticulture, in fact, the reverse.
The HDC says the success lies in addressing specific efficiency issues in the different levy boards rather than a collective approach which would add cost and complexity.
It said the industry agreed with its view that, in line with greater accountability back to growers, there must be a vote of growers about any proposed changes
Colin Harvey, HDC chairman, said: We agree that there is the opportunity to create greater flexibility but this can be done in a far simpler way without extra cost, or loss of focus.”
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