Soft fruit growers show life without subsidies is possible
Britain’s soft-fruit growers are an example to all of how the industry can prosper without reliance on subsidies, according to one of the country’s most successful berry producers.
Each year Marion Regan and her husband Jon supply more than 2000t of strawberries and 300t of raspberries to the supermarkets from their farming business in Kent, Hugh Lowe Farms Ltd.
In her address to the conference Mrs Regan sought to emphasise the importance of market focus and the need to invest in research and development to maintain pace with the consumer.
“The lack of production support means growers have been forced to pay close attention to what they grow, when and to what standards. So UK berry growing in 2007 is done to a high standard, freshness and eating quality are paramount, as are the environmental and ethical aspects of production,” Mrs Regan said.
Using Kentish Garden, the marketing co-operative established by her father as example of engineered success, she explained how market share has grown while margins have been maintained despite a wholesale price that has fallen in real terms.
“Growth in the strawberry market has occurred with static prices, so we have all had to focus on savings in production and harvesting costs, which has not been easy given massive wage inflation and rises in other significant input costs.”
Supermarkets
And she was quick to credit the role of supermarkets in growing the domestic berry market.
“Supermarkets deserve credit for the health of the soft fruit sector in the UK. Their exacting standards have raised the bar every year for the last 20, keeping the industry competitive.
“Those who have not been able to meet their needs have got out and those left are better businesses for it. But we could not have done this with a fragmented market, without our strong marketing organisation.”
But to stay competitive, UK berry growers need just two things, she said. First, active political support from politicians at an EU, national and local level for issues such as planning, water use, employment legislation and seasonal worker schemes and research into the business impacts of climate change.
Second, progressive marketing arrangements that encourage growers to group together to find the best routes to market.
