The HDRA and the Soil Association are looking for more growers to sign up to supply data to their organic fruit and vegetables price information service.
The information was first made available this summer as a joint project between the two organizations. They said that with the chaotic weather creating havoc for growers, the availability of the information was ‘timely and welcome’ to producers who ‘might otherwise have been in the dark as to what prices to charge’.
Although any growers can access the information on the Soil Association’s website, the organisation says there are ‘real advantages’ to signing up, including having summary figures returned to them the following day. The price information includes monthly average prices for individual crops at the ex-farm, wholesale and retail levels, as well as anecdotal information on the state of the market.
Pam Bowers of Strawberry Fields in Lincolnshire said: “Pricing info has never been more relevant than in this season. Usually I look back on the previous year and try to eke out another pence or two to bridge the widening gap of wage rise increases, escalating price of cardboard, increase plant raising costs, you name it. This season I don't know where to begin to try and compensate for crop losses - like we probably need £5 a cob for sweetcorn.”
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