Fruit and Vegetable Alliance calls for help for UK horticulture

The Fruit and Vegetable Alliance, the industry organisation established by The Food Foundation in July, has met with Defra minister George Eustice to urge for more government support for the sector.

The Edible Horticulture Roundtable urged the minister to develop a strategy to get British consumers eating seven portions of fresh produce a day, with as much as possible coming from UK sources.

The Fruit and Vegetable Alliance is a diverse group of producer groups and organisations including British Growers, British Summer Fruits, G’s Fresh, NFU, Organic Farmers and Growers, Produce World, the Soil Association and others. At the meeting it was chaired by Jack Ward of British Growers, who said, “The coming together of the industry, charity and Government bodies signals a positive new approach to domestic fruit and vegetable production. By focussing on working together to increase support to the UK fresh produce industry, we can help to ensure that horticulture gets the recognition and support it deserves.”

Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, added, “We all need to eat more fruit and veg to optimise our health and prevent disease, and for that we need a thriving horticulture sector which stimulates consumer demand. Government policy has a critical role to play in ensuring a productive future for British fruit and veg growers and we hope this new engagement with Defra will help secure that future, in the interests of the nation’s health.”

Photo caption: Jack Ward

Photo Credit: Richard Crowhurst

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