UK growers have criticised claims made by the British Retail Consortium that retailers are now paying more to farmers, but payments are getting stuck with middlemen. According to Andrew Opie, director of food at the British Retail Consortium, retailers were listening to farmers and growers and paying more money. He added, however, that these increased payments were, however, getting stuck in the middle, with the middlemen.
Opie's comments have since been criticised by British Berry Growers. Nick Marston, chairman of the body: "In our sector that’s simply not true. Our growers have direct relationships with retailers or very transparent relationships through producer organisations. Despite constant material that we have given retailers about their massive increase in the cost of production of fresh berries in this country, we have seen no action at all."
Source: farminguk.com