Fruit and Vegetables

Government disregard for farmers and food production has led directly to the growing food crisis, NFU president Minette Batters has said. 

The NFU is calling for urgent clarity on the future of the Seasonal Workers Scheme, amid claims the industry’s future rests ‘on a knife edge’.

A multi-year agreement has been announced for the distribution of two plant-stimulating lactobacillus aimed to improve soil conditions and nutrient interactions.

The horticultural industry has established a grower-owned working group to provide support to a successor body to AHDB Horticulture to take over processing of EAMU applications and emergency authorisations.

Three growers are urging their colleagues to complete a ballot to gauge views on the AHDB levy in order to paint a ‘truly representative picture’ for Defra.

Horticulture chiefs have warned growers will face a steep increase in costs as they struggle to retain and attract workers amid the Covid-19 pandemic.  

An online recruitment platform has restructured its business model to help target the demand for seasonal workers in picking jobs across UK farms.

NFU’s horticulture and potatoes board chairwoman Alison Capper has warned thousands of pickers are needed to fill ‘peak’ jobs for the harvest season fast approaching.

Nearly half of the UK’s fruit and vegetables are now produced to the environmental standards demanded by the LEAF Marque accreditation scheme.

Defra Secretary George Eustice has been criticised at NFU conference this week for failing to provide clarity on whether the number of seasonal visas on offer will be drastically increased.