Home-grown: A roadmap to resilient fruit and vegetable production in England

The charities have penned the report to raise the alarm over the fact that imports account for most of fruit and nearly half of veg consumed in the UK, while less than a third of people eat their five a day.

The report calls for the next UK government to put more money into incentives for nature-friendly fruit and veg production, including organic and regenerative, and tailored support for small-scale growers.

It also calls for a shift away from farming on peat, and for farming communities to be supported through that transition.

The groups urge government to invest in farmer-led research to support sustainable and nature-friendly methods of farming on peat while also scaling up production in other parts of the country including field-scale horticulture.

Will White, Sustainable Farming Coordinator at Sustain, says:

“The UK stands at a critical juncture in its approach to food production and public health. Our current food system is not only failing our health, with diet-related diseases costing the NHS billions annually, but also leaving our growers vulnerable to unrelenting market pressures and climate impacts. Given this new era of increasing climactic and geopolitical instability, it’s imperative that the next government backs domestic fruit and vegetable production with the robust policies outlined in this report, which include substantial investments in public procurement of homegrown produce, local food hubs, peri-urban farming, and farmer-led research. We must also ensure fairness and flexibility in supply chains to create the level playing field needed for our growers to thrive.”