Benn backs British fruit and veg

Hilary Benn, Environment Secretary, said a new team of industry experts would find ways to reverse a decade decline in domestic production.

According to Defra figures there has been a 25 per cent reduction in area used to grow fresh vegetables and a 30 per cent drop in fruit orchards since 1998.

The new task force, comprising growers, retailers, consumers and agricultural researchers, will look at ways to get people growing their own fruit and vegetables, as well as ways to support England’s commercial growers.

Mr Benn said: “If we grow and eat more fruit and vegetables here – in our greenhouses, in our orchards, in our fields, our allotments and in our own back gardens – it will be good for our health, our farming community, and our landscape.

“There is a gap at the moment, between what we consume and what we grow here, but there’s no reason why we can’t grow more here. And the main thing we can do to encourage this is to choose, and eat, British produce.

“We need make sure our farmers can compete successfully with imports, are resilient to the effects of climate change, and that we’re getting fresh talent into the industry so that we can continue to grow world-class fruit and veg.”

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