Ali Capper, executive chair of British Apples and Pears, has expressed concern to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee about the UK's "cheap food" policy. She argues that this policy is driving out local farming and food production. Capper calls for a strategic shift towards championing local produce, despite it not being the cheapest option.
Capper highlighted that in the past two years, British apple growers have seen a 30% increase in production costs, primarily due to labour and energy, but the market has only returned 8% of these costs. Meanwhile, major retailers have significantly increased the prices of apples. She sees this as an imbalance in the margin share and blames the cheap food policy for poor buyer behaviour and an increase in imports.
Looking ahead, Capper believes the UK is well-positioned to grow food due to favourable climate conditions. She urges for a strategic investment in local food production, aiming to increase it by 30% to 40%. She also wants the government to ensure that retailers recognize "farm input" inflation and offer fair pricing, even suggesting legislation if necessary.
Source: uk.finance.yahoo.com