Double the land used to grow fruit and veg
Date Published: 25th July 2024
We have backed an open letter coordinated by the Soil Association to the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling him to back and scale-up British fruit and vegetable farming.
Along with other farming and environmental groups, influencers and TV presenters we have sent the letter asking the Prime Minister to double the land used for horticulture in England. Currently less than 2% of farmland is used to grow fruit and vegetables, less than is available to play golf in England!
It also calls for the UK government to put more money into incentives for nature-friendly fruit and veg production, including organic, alongside tailored support for small-scale growers.
The letter says: “Across the country, growers of all scales are working tirelessly to achieve a simple but vital mission: to nourish people with good food. But the sector faces devasting decline. Nearly half of our growers fear for the survival of their businesses and fruit and veg consumption in the UK is at the lowest level in half a century. Less than a third of us eat our five-a-day.
“What’s more, the produce that does reach us is too often imported from countries that are increasingly impacted by extreme weather. Almost half of our veg and more than 80% of our fruit is imported. This cannot go on. We urgently need more – not less – home-grown fruit and veg, or we face further disaster for supermarket shelves, our health, and the environment.”
What can you do?