Fresh Produce Policy and Advocacy

A Business Case for Horticulture

Expanding the UK’s edible horticulture sector presents a strong opportunity to boost economic growth, strengthen food security, and deliver environmental and public health benefits. Increasing domestic production of fruits, vegetables, and legumes would reduce reliance on imports while generating billions of pounds in economic value and supporting thousands of rural jobs. At the same time, horticultural crops are often resource-efficient and nutrient-dense, helping to lower the environmental footprint of food production while improving access to healthy diets. Strategic investment and coordinated policy support will be key to unlocking the sector’s potential and building a more resilient, sustainable UK food system.

Growing British- a strategy paper for promoting fresh produce production in the UK 

Growing British – backing a 30% increase in UK production of fresh fruit and vegetables by 2032 - would add an extra £0.5 billion in direct GDP contributions to the UK economy per year. Over the same period the growing industries will be transitioning to net zero carbon. The UK’s fresh produce sector is dynamic and competitive. A sustainable portfolio of strategic support is needed if the UK fresh produce industry is to continue to thrive and grow. This strategy green paper charts how economic, environmental, and nutritional benefits can be realised if this vibrant farming sector is encouraged in the UK.

A Manifesto for Growing More British Fruits and Vegetables 

Fruit and vegetable production in the UK faces a multitude of challenges, most notably small margins, climate change, labour shortages, rising energy costs, market failures, and the need to meet sustainability goals (such as pesticide reductions and Net Zero). Over the past 20 years, the UK has witnessed a significant decline in its fruit and vegetable research base.

The Farm to Fork Summit 2024 announced a Blueprint for growing the UK fruit and vegetable sector. Section 5 of the Blueprint is “Growing Skills and Innovation”.

We present a manifesto for delivering this support for the sector

An evidence base for growing more British fruits and vegetables... (coming soon)

In recent years the UK’s own domestic horticultural sector has declined whilst reliance on imports for the supply of fruits and vegetables has steadily increased. As a result, our fruit and vegetable supply is becoming increasingly vulnerable; heavy reliance on imports reduces the UK’s capacity to provide its population with essential nutrients in the event of crop failures in other nations. Increasing domestic horticultural production will reduce reliance on imports and safeguard the UK’s fruit and vegetable supply against shocks.

This report summarises and analyses evidence to support the development of the UK’s horticultural sector and increase domestic fruit and vegetable production.