Horticultural scientists have stressed they need to achieve closer communication beyond producers by embracing the retail trade and even taking into account consumers’ views.

That was the message to delegates at the annual Vegetable Conference & Exhibition sponsored by Adas, which took place in Peterborough this week.

Colin Harvey, chairman of the Horticultural Development Council (HDC), said a changing industry meant there is a whole new challenge arising, which includes legislation, climate, consumer power, and the competitive effects of vegetable imports.

The only way to maintain momentum is to “drill down” and benefit from the practical expertise of grower groups, such as the Brassica Growers’ Association.

Producers are becoming more aware of the need to co-operate and develop skills such as benchmarking.

This was against a background where there was a need for them to develop quality management systems to drive down waste, at a time when multiples were out-sourcing their management systems back to growers, by the use of category suppliers.

The HDC has already begun to respond to the challenge, he said, with increased communication, passing on details of its scientific work, establishing taste-testing panels and looking at the potential structure of the UK mushroom industry.

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