The UK Fruit and Vegetable Association (UKFVA) has been established to represent UK growers in securing funding for the horticultural sector. It advocates for government commitments to bolster domestic food production and safeguard UK food security.
The group intends to press the government to collaborate with growers and devise a replacement for the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme for producer organisations, set to end this year in England. While Wales may also see the phase-out of the legacy EU scheme, Scotland and Northern Ireland's devolved governments plan to extend it.
UKFVA aims to achieve equal support across the UK and act as a unified representative for fruit and vegetable growers regarding future policies. Patrick Bastow, UKFVA spokesperson, remarked, "This is not just about protecting what we had under the old scheme. It's about building something better, a scheme that works for today's growers, today's challenges, and tomorrow's opportunities."
Highlighting the strategic nature of the previous scheme, Bastow added that it was not merely a subsidy but a strategic investment in Britain's food system. "The UKFVA will fight to ensure that fact is not forgotten and that growers' voices are heard at the highest levels of government."
Source: Farmers Weekly
