A recent open letter, co-ordinated by the Soil Association, warns that, if the current decline in British fruit and vegetables continues, that the country will “face further disaster” in terms of supply on shelves, health and the environment.
The letter urges the UK government to double the land dedicated to fruit and vegetable cultivation in response to rising concerns over food security and sustainability.
The letter reads, “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 devastating decline. Nearly half of our growers fear for the survival of their businesses and fruit and vegetable consumption in the UK is at the lowest level in half a century. 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 vegetables 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.”
To find out more and sign a pledge on the Soil Association website to support homegrown fruit and vegetables, visit https://www.soilassociation.org/causes-campaigns/save-uk-fruit-and-veg-the-health-of-the-nation-depends-on-it/