Defra Secretary has helped unveil plans for the autumn by the NFU and others to boost the consumption of home-grown produce, including fruit and veg, as part of the government’s ‘Year of British Food’.

The NFU, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Red Tractor and Love British Food are uniting to coordinate a calendar of events starts with the NFU’s Back British Farming day in September, followed by an autumn of driving consumer awareness of quality, assured British food. This activity includes Red Tractor Week, British Food Fortnight, a 12-week Red Tractor on-pack promotion across retailers and foodservice operators, supporting TV and in-store advertising campaigns.

Environment secretary Elizabeth Truss said, “I’m delighted to see our world-leading food and farming industry celebrating British food and drink to help grow our food industry further. With 3.8 million people employed in the food chain we know it is vital for our economic future we make British food and farming all it can be and I am determined to work closely with the farming industry to harness innovation and technology, develop new skills and promote our rich food heritage.”

NFU Deputy President Minette Batters added, “I’m pleased to see our farming organisations collaborating and coming together to champion great British food and the thousands of farmers and growers who produce it every day of the year. I hope this plan of action will help showcase British food which, as we know, is the best in the world.”

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