British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) has published a new set of data that highlights the continued struggles for beleaguered UK top fruit growers.
The full set of data is the largest ever released at one time by the industry. Over the two years since 2021, British apple growers faced 30% increases in costs of production and received just 8% increases in returns from supermarkets.
In 2022, growers faced cost of production increases of 23% and practically static returns from supermarkets that year of 0.8%. In 2023, British apple growers faced 6-9% cost of production increases and received an average of 7% increases in returns from UK supermarkets.
“This situation is unsustainable. The industry is on a knife edge. I’ve never heard such desperation from our members. It’s heart breaking. Apples are a superfood – great for our health, environment and rural economy."
“The volatility in costs has become the biggest challenge faced by growers, many of them out of their control from labour and energy to the ever-increasing cost of the audit burden. We should not be talking about the slow decline of British apple orchards, and generations of family farm businesses at risk of bankruptcy," said executive chair of BAPL, Ali Capper.
Given this situation, confidence in British apple growing is understandably low:
70% of growers said they are less confident than they were a year ago. Just 3% said they have a ‘true partnership’ with supermarkets, while 45% say retailers only buy on price and that it’s not a true partnership.
“According to The Grocer’s analysis of Assosia data, in the two years from November 2021 to November 2023, the price of apples has increased significantly with the average price in Aldi rising by 12.6%, Lidl 12.1%, Tesco by 10.9% and Sainsbury’s by 9.1%. Together these four retailers sell over 70% of all British apples and pears. And the averages hide some startling extremes, Lidl’s Oaklands Red Apples 2kg went up by 50%, Morrisons British Apples (six pack) went up 39% and Tesco increased the price of its Rosedene Farms Gala apples (six pack) by 36%. “Unfortunately, those consumer price increases are not being matched by the much-needed returns to growers.”
In response to the crisis in the industry, BAPL has set out three critical changes needed to save British apple orchards:
- Supermarkets to increase returns to growers to reflect the true cost of production and necessary investment.
- Supermarkets to enter longer-term arrangements with growers to give farmers the confidence to grow this perennial crop, invest in much-needed technology, varieties and automation.
- Supermarkets to put action behind their words of support for British farming with in-store and online merchandising that celebrates our wonderful fruit.
For more information:
Louise Raisbeck
British Apples and Pears
Email: [email protected]