Fruit Focus 2013
UK: Groceries Code Adjudicator urges fruit growers to inform of unfair demands by supermarkets
Two pressing topics overshadowing the fruit sector – fairness in the supply chain and seasonal workers – were aired. Christine Tacon, the newly appointed Groceries Code Adjudicator, urged fruit growers to inform her of any unfair demands being put on them by the supermarkets.
Speaking to a packed audience at the NFU Fruit Forum, she said: “This is your big chance to sort the industry out. Unless you let me know what’s going on, I won’t be able to help.”
Ms Tacon, who took up her role on 25 June, oversees a legally binding code of practice introduced three years ago. It is designed to curtail practices that pass risk from the supermarket down the chain, such as lump sum payments to cover profit shortfalls or demands to fund promotions. It covers all retailers with a turnover of more than £1bn.
Although the Code had been in place for three years very few breaches had been reported, due to a “climate of fear” that a complaint against a retailer would cost a supplier its business. “I can take complaints anonymously – I need to know who you are, but the retailer doesn’t,” Ms Tacon said.
While she was able to launch investigations that could result in large fines being imposed on supermarkets found guilty of breaching the code, such investigations would be resource hungry, Ms Tacon said.
She hoped her preferred route of working closely with code compliance officers (CCOs) would be sufficient to build more trust into the supply chain. These senior staff appointed by supermarkets already appeared to be onside, given the threat of adverse publicity as well as sizeable fines, she added.
Another issue attracting plenty of sector interest, the potential demise of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS), also saw a full house.
Anthony Snell, Herefordshire fruit grower and chairman of the West Midlands NFU Horticulture Board, feared the scheme was becoming embroiled in politics. “The big message for government is that it is not an immigration issue, it should not even be political. It is purely economic, being about the availability of seasonal labour to pick crops to ensure a vibrant horticultural industry.”
Describing the scheme as tried and tested, he said he could not manage without the 250-300 workers he employed each season on his farm. They were young workers who paid their taxes and National Insurance and then went home. Urging government to rethink its plans to close the scheme at the end of 2013, he said: “It is a brilliant system and must be continued without a break.”
A Migration Advisory Committee report on seasonal migrant workers published in May concluded that British farmers should be able to recruit enough seasonal workers in the first one to two years without the scheme after working restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanian nationals are lifted at the end of this year.
Chief horticulture adviser Hayley Gibbons said an NFU survey revealed a very different outcome, with 50% of growers doubtful that workers from Bulgaria and Romania would come back to the sector once access to the wider job market and permanent work opened up.
“With a £3bn farm-gate value for this industry that’s a big gamble to take,” she said. Given the dearth of UK labour, she added: “Producers may not be able to deliver – it is very important that SAWS is not caught up in a top-line immigration debate.”
Jon Day, event director at Fruit Focus organiser Haymarket Exhibitions, said the success of this year’s event outlined growers’ hunger to improve their businesses.
“With over 120 exhibitors in attendance, Fruit Focus offers an unrivalled opportunity in the UK for growers to keep up-to-date with the latest technology, business and variety developments,” he said.
Chris Mack, chairman of Fruit Focus principal sponsor Mack, said: "Once again, Fruit Focus has shown how much energy and drive there is in British fruit production at the moment."
“This year it was a particular pleasure for me to meet the people behind the new Malling Centenary strawberry, and to see the pride that comes with seeing years of hard work come to fruition. My congratulations to the event organisers for another seamless, well-attended day."
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