Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Vegetable production at lowest levels since 1985, warns NFU

Vegetable production at lowest levels since 1985, warns NFU
iStock image
Getty Images

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Minette Batters has warned that “we’re seeing the lowest levels of tomatoes and cucumbers produced since records began in 1985.”

Speaking with BBC Radio 4 on Monday (30), Minette said that the more often farmers produce less food, the more that it drives further cost inflation.


She said that decisions of what to plant “will have been made effectively at the beginning of the autumn period last summer, when gas prices were at their most volatile,” adding that prices were 650 per cent higher than back in 2019.

“It is the volitality that is driving a lot of this and to date the cost inflation that farmers and growers are facing has absolutley been dwarfed by any price increases," Batters said, adding that there is contraction- "lowest levels of tomatoes and cucumber produced since records began in 1985".

She further added that due to more than 50 per cent rise in cost to keep glasshouses warm, farmers are instead considering to use it as storage instead of using them to grow crops.

NFU president called on to find incentives for farmers to give them confidence to keep producing and not contract.

The warning came more than a month after NFU issued a similar warning stating that the UK is “sleepwalking” into a food supply crisis unless it urgently provides support to those struggling with the soaring cost of the “three f’s”- fuel, feed and fertiliser.

NFU said the shortages of eggs could spread to other food products, as UK fruit and vegetable growers and meat and dairy producers come under pressure from soaring costs for energy and animal feed, combined with the challenge of finding enough staff.

“Huge issues for pigs, for poultry meat, for eggs, for fresh produce,” NFU’s president, said Batters, warning that more reliance on food imports could further push up price inflation.

Farmers have faced rising costs since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the NFU said, as fertiliser prices have tripled since 2019, on top of a six-fold increase in wholesale gas prices.

More for you

Carlsberg Zero
Competition watchdog begins Carlsberg, Britvic merger probe
Competition watchdog begins Carlsberg, Britvic merger probe

Carlsberg shifts marketing focus as drinkers choose cheaper beer

Brewer Carlsberg is shifting some of its marketing focus to cheaper brands, it said on Thursday (31), as consumers in major markets bought cheaper beer and in reduced quantities.

The maker of Kronenbourg 1664, Tuborg and Somersby said beer sales volumes fell by 1.3 per cent in the third quarter, noting declines in China, France and the United Kingdom. Premium sales fell 0.5 per cent in the quarter."In Western Europe, there's no doubt that the average consumer is holding back," CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen told Reuters.

Keep ReadingShow less
sustainability, zero waste store, refil lzone
Photo: iStock
Photo: iStock

Consumers value ethics though 'sustainability needs to be competitively priced'

Consumers now want a greater commitment from retailers in cutting food waste, refilling stations, sustainable packaging, and partnering with social purpose organisations, states a recent research, which also highlights that a good majority (69 per cent) of younger consumers are more likely to shop with what they see as socially responsible retailers though price sensitivity still plays a crucial role.

According to the findings, published in Vypr’s Consumer Horizon Report, reducing food waste is the most important factor for the majority of UK consumers (29 per cent), especially for Gen Z women aged 18-24 (38 per cent). More than a third (37 per cent) of men aged 18-24 said they needed food storage advice. A similar number of women aged 18-24 (33 per cent) want meal kits with the exact amount of ingredients included for them to cut down on food waste.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sugro-Wn-News.png
Sugro UK
Sugro UK

Sugro UK unveils new B2B digital enhancements to empower members, retailers

Sugro UK, the number one buying and marketing buying group*, in partnership with b2b.store, is thrilled to announce a further expansion of its existing E-Loyalty scheme programme, which has proven to be very popular with its members and retailers, by introducing E-Loyalty Extra Compliance and Execution scheme as well as E-Coupons.

The E-Loyalty Extra is aimed to boost compliance and execution at retail store level to drive new product launches, core range compliance, some exciting fixture trials with its supply partners and more! It will be available to all member owned and member affiliated retail stores within the group.

Keep ReadingShow less
Paulig acquires Panesar Foods

iStock image

Paulig acquires Panesar Foods

Expanding its footprint in the World Foods category, Paulig has acquired Panesar Foods, a prominent UK-based producer of sauces and condiments.

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Tipton, Panesar Foods is a family-owned business with three production facilities, employing 308 staff and achieving a turnover of £59 million in the 2023 fiscal year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mary Glindon

Mary Glindon

Labour MP cautions proposed vaping tax could hinder smoking cessation efforts

Labour MP Mary Glindon has cautioned that a new excise tax on vaping could discourage smokers from switching to less harmful alternatives.

Glindon, who also chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Responsible Vaping, said the chancellor’s proposed tax, which will add £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid when it goes into effect on October 1, 2026, will “hurt working people”, who rely on vapes to quit smoking.

Keep ReadingShow less