Fresh produce sector launches food security campaign
© Tim Scrivener The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has launched a new campaign urging farmers, businesses and the public to press MPs to strengthen the UK’s food security.
The trade body, which represents the fresh fruit, vegetable and flower supply chain, has unveiled a new platform freshproduceaction.co.uk, bringing together two of its flagship campaigns in one place.
See also: Government policy undermining UK food resilience, warns IGD
The platform includes a tool enabling people to contact their MP, alongside a petition from leading chefs , “One Squeeze Too Far”, warning about growing pressures on fresh produce supplies.
The UK-EU Reset Action Pack encourages supporters to call for improvements to post-Brexit trading arrangements to reduce border delays and compliance costs affecting imported fresh produce.
The FPC says about half of the UK’s fresh produce is imported, with 99.5% of consignments meeting existing border requirements, but ongoing trade friction is costing the sector more than £300m.
More than 1,350 chefs, restaurateurs and kitchen professionals have signed the petition, warning that further disruption to supply chains could reduce availability and increase costs for hospitality businesses and consumers.
Risk to food system
The campaign follows new research by food and grocery body IGD, which found 91% of food industry leaders and academics believe risks to the UK’s food system have increased over the past year.
Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the FPC, said Britain’s fresh produce supply relied on a diverse global network.
“Britain’s fresh produce supply already spans the globe for good reason — no single region, climate or trade relationship can carry that risk alone.
“When nine out of ten of the people running our food system say the risks are rising, and every one of them says government hasn’t kept up, that’s not a warning, it’s a verdict.”
The FPC said the campaign aims to build support for policy changes that improve food supply resilience while reducing unnecessary costs and disruption across the supply chain.