British Growers

2020, and into 2021, Covid 19 is affecting the way we live and work.

As well as all the life events that could not take place this year, the horticultural industry has been unable to host any training or networking events. New technologies, innovations and products have been unable to be showcased to growers in the usual way.

In light of this situation, we have expanded our regular communications to our members and are now offering reasonable advertising opportunities or editorial spaces in our membership updates. These include:

• Asparagus Growers Association
• Brassica Growers Association
• British Carrot Growers Association
• British Herb Trade Association
• British Leafy Salad Association
• British Onions
• Pea and Bean Growers Association
• Plant Propagators
• Turfgrass Growers Association.

Our advertising rates are used to help support the Grower Associations so that they can continue to represent and support the growers in their sector.

If you would like more information on placing an advert with our Crop Associations, please contact coral.russell@britishgrowers.org

This year, British Summer Fruits is celebrating its milestone 25^th anniversary of representing and supporting the UK berry industry.

The last 25 years have seen huge growth and success for fresh berries, with the industry now worth over £1.5 billion. That’s a staggering growth of over 600% from a value of £206 million in 1996, the year British Summer Fruits was incorporated.

As the UK berry industry’s trade body, British Summer Fruits represents the great majority of fresh berries supplied to UK retailers. In addition to its year-round promotional PR and press office campaign, the body also represents and supports members with media comment on key industry issues. For example, British Summer Fruits has been heavily involved in lobbying and talking to government in support of the industry on matters such as seasonal worker availability and, in the past polytunnel planning.

The work of British Summer Fruits is funded on a voluntary levy basis, and today the organisation is pleased to be supported by over 90% of UK growers and berry marketing groups.

Nick Marston has been chairman of British Summer Fruits since 2017. In that time the industry has seen significant growth and addressed a number of industry challenges, such as access to and availability of seasonal workers.

Nick said: “The work British Summer Fruits does in representing the whole berry industry is invaluable. Our annual campaign to support growers spans our proactive Love Fresh Berries consumer engagement campaign, which focuses on the health benefits and versatility of fresh berries, as well as recipe ideas and seasonal information to inspire purchase in addition to media outreach and government lobbying,

“Our PR campaigns typically achieve a 40:1 ROI and have evolved in recent years to include social media and improved ways of measuring our impact, and it’s no coincidence that the industry has seen solid growth every year the campaign has run.

“With increasing calls for consumers to adopt healthier lifestyles and diets, our work to highlight fresh berries as a delicious, healthy snack and ingredient is extremely important. We also need to continue to drive consumer demand to support our UK berry growers and their growth ambitions by providing an ever-expanding market for their crops.”

The berry industry has seen significant innovation in the past 25 years, including varietal developments, new growing techniques and the use of new technology. As a result, the self-sufficiency of the British berry industry continues to grow each year, with the UK season now extending from May to November. British Summer Fruits year-round Love Fresh Berries campaign linked with improving quality and availability of fruit from overseas growers means the UK now has a growing year-round market for fresh berries.

Nick Marston continues: “We are pleased to work with such a large proportion of UK growers each year, but the opportunity to partner with more, including overseas growers and their representatives, is always present.

“The last 25 years have been extremely successful for the berry industry and we hope the next 25 will see similar success, even with industry challenges such as Brexit and seasonal workers. Having industry wide representation to promote and support the industry is essential, and we look forward to continuing our activities to support members and drive ongoing consumer demand.”

Lochy Porter, chairman of Angus Soft Fruits and a British Summer Fruits member since 2003 said: “I have been extremely fortunate to be farming in a sector of agriculture that has enjoyed fantastic growth because of the brilliant tasting soft fruit that British growers produce, and all the health benefits that eating soft fruits offer.

“Alongside this, being a member of BSF has been key in promoting the health benefits and quality of the soft fruit that we produce, as well as addressing industry challenges and issues on our behalf. I believe BSF has been instrumental in supporting the overall growth of the soft fruit industry in the UK.”

AHDB Ballot Outcome

314 levy payers voted in favour of a continuation of a compulsory levy and 488 voted against.

Expressed in cash terms £2,763,638 voted for the levy and £2,093,951 voted against.

The decision about what happens next rests with Defra Ministers.

The health benefits of eating veg has certainly struck a chord with consumers. The British Onions Producers Association and UK Brassica Growers Association have seen sales of onions and brassicas soar during lockdown. Retailers are reporting increases of 25% in year on year sales of onions, and in the early stages of lockdown sales were up as much as 70% on previous years.

Commenting on the growth in onion consumption, Tim Elcome, Chairman of the British Onions Producers Association said, ‘with many more people inevitably cooking at home the humble onion is proving ever popular’.  But Increased demand coupled with an unpredictable growing season means that stocks of UYK onions are somewhat lower than we would normally expect.  This may result in a tightening of UK stocks and an increased import window next spring and early summer.

Brassica growers have experienced a similar situation with higher than normal sales across the full range of brassicas as consumers look for new things to cook at home. ‘This has been a great opportunity for people to re-discover the benefits of seasonal home grown produce’ explained Richard Mowbray, Chairman of the UK Brassica Growers Association.

Richard went on to point out that the spell of very cold weather over the Christmas period has affected some yields and supplies have been affected.  Imports from Spain have also been affected due to heavy snow caused by Storm Filomena.  As a result of this unprecedented demand, UK brassica supplies will be tight for the remainder of the winter period with some varieties finishing earlier than normal and sales outstripping supply.

Stewart Aspinall Chairman of the Leek Growers Association has seen a similar patter emerge with leek consumption. ‘Consumers spending more time eating at home and cooking from scratch has created greater demand for British leeks, with many trying the vegetable for the first time and enjoying its taste and versatility’.

But as with onions and brassicas, this unexpected growth in demand, coupled with a harsh Spring in 2020, means that there is likely to be a shortfall by April, with supply ending earlier than normal and retailers will have to look at importing more expensive continental leeks to fill the void.

The British Carrot Growers Association Chairman, Rodger Hobson comments that the “carrot industry is delighted with the increase in demand from UK consumers, spending more time at home preparing food has led the UK to rekindle their love for the humble British carrot”. Following the 2020 growing year, which was challenging, Rodger warns “that there might be some imported carrots on the shelves to ensure continuity of supply. This will enable everyone to enjoy carrots in all their meal occasions until the new UK crops comes on stream”.

Jack Ward, British Growers said ‘It’s great to see this surge in demand. We know as a nation we don’t have enough veg in our diet and while part of the success is attributable to lockdown, there is a growing interest in healthy eating and seasonal produce. The UK had a proud tradition of producing seasonal veg throughout the year and the increased consumption has brought a welcome counter to the problems of coping with the Covid pandemic.’

AHDB ballot

Quick reminder, the AHDB ballot closes on 10 February 2021 and we are expecting the outcome to be announced on 17 February 2021.

Covid testing for food workers

Defra would like to invite growers with more than 50 employees to register for the provision of government-funded lateral flow technology (LFT/LFD) to test asymptomatic workers. These free test kits will be available until 31 March 2021.

The offer

• a limited period of free LFDs shipped to one location;
• a clinically approved protocol (Standard Operating Procedures);
• a Guidebook to describe how to set up and run a safe and effective testing site;
• on-demand training for the operatives that will process tests & run the site; and
• a GDPR-compliant digital solution to report results to Public Health England.

Setting up an ATS site may not be viable for smaller businesses or premises, and therefore this model is less suitable for mobile employees working in the field away from a fixed location and so Government is developing other options. In the meantime, the suggestion is for businesses with fewer than 50 employees to contact their local authority to explore the possibility of using the growing number community testing facilities.

Next steps

Those that want to further engage, please register your interest with P&P Sector Testing Queries P-and-PSector@dhsc.gov.uk including “Register interest for National Worker Programme” in the subject line and including the following information in the email body:

Institution name

Email for main point of contact

Industry sector  e.g. Food manufacturing

Company registration number

Size of company (# employees) e.g. 50-250, >250

The offer is currently for England only but conversations in the Devolved Administrations are ongoing. Please flag if your business includes locations in Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.

The Farming Equipment & Technology Fund

Defra is planning to launch the Farming and Equipment Technology Fund (FETF) in England in the Autumn of 2021. This scheme will be part of the Farming Investment Fund and provide grants to farmers and growers (including contractors to these sectors).

The Fund will provide targeted support to invest in equipment, technology, and infrastructure to improve productivity in a sustainable way. The plan is to have a maximum grant of £25,000 with an intervention rate of 40%, which means items costing up to £62,500 could be eligible for the list.

Defra is preparing a list of items for inclusion in the new Fund and is asking industry to identify new items to be included in the fund.

The new equipment will need to contribute to one or more of these outcomes:

• Improve agricultural productivity
• Encourage more sustainable pesticide usage
• Improve air and water quality
• Reduce GHG emissions in line with Net Zero targets
• Reduce unsustainable use of abstracted water
• Encourage sustainable management of woodlands

Defra is seeking suggestions for items to be considered for inclusion into the new FETF and wants feedback by 12 February (although I sense this could be stretched a little).

You can either channel your ideas through us or direct to the following contacts at Defra. pamela.whaley@defra.gov.uk and Jonathan.King@rpa.gov.uk

Veg sales continue to do well

A combination of home cooking during lockdown and the vegan revolution is helping boost sales of greens. That’s according to Tesco, which says that veg such as cabbage, spinach and even sprouts have become popular as home-based Brits, with more time on their hands, return to scratch cooking. That effect has been amplified by the growing popularity of plant-based events such as Meat Free Mondays and Veganuary. The trend is so pronounced that Tesco said it is now working with its UK suppliers to grow more to meet the demand. The highest increase is being seen with leeks and cabbage as well as broccoli and sprouts. Since the first lockdown in March 2020, Tesco reported leeks sales up 30%, cabbages 25%, broccoli 20%, and sprouts, kale and spinach all around 10%.

Every few years, Red Tractor reviews its farm standards to ensure they evolve in a way that addresses changes in legislation, best practice and reflects the concerns and priorities of UK consumers. A comprehensive review is now open for consultation, running until the 5^th of March 2021. It is open to all farms, customers, licensees and industry stakeholders. Preserving the public’s trust in UK agriculture and the Red Tractor logo has never been more important or topical. We strive to achieve a balance that protects and promotes Red Tractor farms, provides customers and consumers with confidence, and addresses key industry challenges.

Proposals have been developed following industry best practice: Committee | Consultation | Consensus. This is the consultation stage and every response will be reviewed before a consensus proposal is drawn up and published, ahead of Version 5 of the Red Tractor Standards being implemented on 1^st November 2021. We have already consulted broadly at the committee stage to create these proposals and the public consultation is another vital component of the process. This will help ensure we have a final text that is ambitious but remains approachable and accessible for small, family farms and we want feedback from all relevant stakeholders.

You can access the Red Tractor 2021 Review Hub here.

I would like to strongly encourage you to get involved and have your say; both in response to the consultation and also the briefer Pulse Survey which allows individuals to provide quick, general feedback on the Red Tractor scheme.

If you would like some further information on the proposals, you will find a number of resources on the Red Tractor 2021 Review Hub. You are welcome to contact me if you have questions or would like to organise an appointment to run through the content in more detail.

MEDIA RELEASE

From: David Camp, Chief Executive, Association of Labour Providers

Release Date: 13 January 2021

Helping the food supply chain to find critical workers

The newly launched, Association of Labour Providers ‘Extra Workers Needed Portal’ supports the food supply chain to address critical worker shortages. A short demonstration video may be viewed here.

Despite rising unemployment figures, ALP’s recent labour supply survey identified that 92% of food growers and manufacturers believe there will be insufficient critical workers to meet the food supply chain’s needs in 2021.
Labour challenges are currently further exacerbated by higher Covid related absence rates.

The ‘Extra Workers Needed Portal’ is one way that the ALP is helping the food supply chain to meet this challenge. It’s a straightforward concept – any food supply chain business that needs extra workers can post their requirements for free in the portal and be contacted by UK wide and local GLAA licensed ALP labour providers that can supply them.

David Camp, ALP Chief Executive says, ‘This portal is a quick and easy way for businesses to reach hundreds of licensed labour providers across the UK, maximising their chances of sourcing the right number and quality of workers at the right time.  From a farm needing a few workers, to a food producer or distribution warehouse needing hundreds, the portal is freely available for all businesses to use.’

Businesses can register to use the portal here.

About ALP

ALP is the specialist trade association promoting responsible recruitment and good practice for organisations that source and supply the workforce to the food processing, agricultural and wider consumer goods supply chain.

Contact: David Camp ¦ Chief Executive ¦ Association of Labour Providers ¦ T 01276 509306 ¦ E info@labourproviders.org.uk ¦ W www.labourproviders.org.uk

AHDB Developments

Apologies for another update with AHDB in the title but January 2021 will a decisive month for the industry and AHDB Horticulture and it is important that people understand what’s happening, what the timescales are and how to influence the outcome.

AHDB Horticulture Ballot

The ballot on the future of the compulsory levy in horticulture will open on 13th January 2021 and end on 10th February 2021. The ballot will ask a simple yes/no question … Should the statutory horticulture levy continue?

Any person or business that has paid the horticulture levy within the previous 12-month period from the end of the ballot (10th February 2021) is eligible to vote. There is one vote per business, regardless of size or turnover and each business must decide who is going to cast that vote (e.g. if it is a partnership, only one person can vote). If you haven’t paid a levy in the past 12 months there is an option to pay a ‘nominal amount’ subject to agreeing a payment plan with AHDB for any outstanding levy invoice(s).

The outcome of the ballot will go to Defra Ministers for a final decision. Ministers are not bound by the result and the decision on whether or not to continue a levy rests with Ministers.

Further information on the ballot

Horticulture & Potatoes Future Statutory Levy Working Group

At the weekend the Horticulture Future Statutory Levy Working Group which comprises the following list of growers issued the following statement:

• Philip Pearson, APS Produce Ltd (Protected Edibles)
• Marion Regan, Hugh Lowe Farms (Soft fruit)
• Martin Emmett, Walberton Nursery LLP, Binsted Nursery LLP, Fleurie Nursery Limited (Ornamentals)
• Sophie Bambridge, B & C Farming Ltd (Potatoes)
• James Harrison, EG Harrison & Co. (Potatoes)
• Tom Hulme, AC Hulme & Sons (Tree Fruit)
• Martin Evans, Fresh Growers Ltd (Field Vegetables)
• John Shropshire, Cambs Farms Growers Ltd (Field Vegetables)
• Derek Wilkinson, Sandfields Farm Ltd (Field Vegetables)
• Philip Morley, British Tomato Growers’ Association / APS Produce Ltd (Protected Edibles

The Horticulture & Potatoes Future Statutory Levy Working Group has been established voluntarily by businesses from within the UK Horticulture and Potato sectors to work together for the benefit of all levy paying businesses. We believe in the fairness and value of a statutory levy and that our industry should work collaboratively to achieve market-led innovation, near market applied R&D, increased productivity and a world class sustainable industry. The Group presents considered alternatives and draws inspiration from the successful levy models established in Australia and New Zealand.

The Group is developing a workable alternative to the current model, aiming to deliver better value for money and organisational and financial transparency for levy paying businesses and would welcome engagement with and contributions to this process from other levy payers. We have been in conversation with senior members of AHDB, including Chairman Nicholas Saphir, and commend the changes he is trying to make, especially the introduction of an automatic 5 yearly ballot. It is our belief that the proposed changes need to go further and faster.

Levy payers must ‘take back control’ of their investment funds and provide the strategic leadership within a lean and agile decision-making framework. The levy organisation should work to support this.

This will be achieved through:

• Root and branch reform of the existing levy organisation for Horticulture and Potatoes
• All levies raised, budgets and costs should be transparent to levy payers, regularly scrutinised and subject to Panel and Sector Board approval
• Overhaul of the governance of the existing levy organisation which should include a review of the Radcliffe Report and the previous constitutions of HDC and a commitment to a Sector Board and Panels for Horticulture
• More focus on levy funded near market R&D, supported by leveraged funding for strategic and fundamental science
• R&D reports online should be more easily accessible to all levy payers
• Market development should be nuanced after Panel consultation and only implemented for those sectors where it is required
• Co-funding mechanisms must be introduced and encouraged to secure additional funding from the whole supply chain, government, and research bodies. This will require entrepreneurism to
leverage these funding sources to complement and magnify levy payers’ funds

Aspects which will require a change in the Statutory Instrument:

• Levy is grower ‘investment’ not public money
• The levy collection and deduction system should reflect modern practices
• Levy paying members should nominate or elect their “Board” and “Panel” representatives ensuring accountability, budget control and sound strategy. They should not be appointed
• Levy payments should receive R&D tax relief / credits in line with private investment. The outcome of the changes being proposed will be a grower-led levy body serving levy payers through
proper governance and transparency. This will deliver a world leading, investor funded service which returns significant and measurable benefits to levy paying investors in a highly challenging and fast evolving primary food and plant production landscape.

The AHDB Strategy

And finally, … the AHDB Strategy is out for consultation. Here is the link to the online response option. The closing date is 31st January 2021.