Buy British fruit and veg, minister pleads

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jan/07/paterson-buy-british-fruit-veg

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A plea for consumers to cut down on buying imported fruit and vegetables and "buy British" in order to boost the economy and improve public health will be made by the environment minister, Owen Paterson.

Praising the qualities of "Scottish raspberries and Kent apples", he is expected to say that a quarter of the food eaten by British consumers comes from abroad, when it could be produced here.

"As British farmers and food producers, you know that we grow some of the best food in the world here – so why is 24% of the food eaten in the UK imported when it could be produced here?" Paterson will say in a speech at the Oxford farming conference.

"We have a top-class fruit and veg sector, which produces everything from green beans to strawberries, yet we imported £8bn of fruit and veg in 2012. We can't grow mangoes or pineapples, but we can encourage UK consumers and food businesses to buy Scottish raspberries or Kent apples.

"This is a huge opportunity, and it's up to all of us – farmers, food manufacturers and the government – to take action. By buying seasonal fruit and veg, we can improve the nation's health, help the environment and boost the economy."

Last year, the National Farmers' Union (NFU) warned that most fruit and vegetables may have to be imported from abroad if there is no turnaround following 2012's wet summer and years of declining production. Government figures last year also reportedly showed a three-decade decrease in the volume of almost every major variety of fruit and vegetable grown in the UK.

A recent report from the government's official climate change advisers warned that droughts could devastate food production in the England by the 2020s.

Paterson is also expected to say that changes to livestock movement rules will save farmers and taxpayers £70m over 10 years, and that cuts to red tape will make it easier for farming businesses to flourish and improve the ability to prevent and control the spread of diseases such as bovine TB. The changes follow recommendations made by the Taskforce on Farming Regulation and will be introduced from 2016.

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