Food miles can be expected to become a bigger issue in the future of fresh produce, according to Steve Maxwell, marketing director of Worldwide Fruit. And there is no doubt that Lord Whitty, food, farming and sustainable energy minister agrees.

The subject came up this week at the two-day Food Production and the New Trade Agenda conference at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. The event attracted scientists and economists from both developing and developed countries and was set against the background of World Trade Organisation discussions seeking to liberalise trade further.

Food miles have already attracted the attention of consumer organisations and Lord Whitty said he wanted to see retailers 're-examine supply routes to reduce journeys where sensible'.

His department is supporting a study in selected product sectors by using local suppliers and different distribution patterns, but any decisions will be up to individual retailers and will depend on local circumstances.

In practical terms, the effect on imports will first be based on being able to meet good agricultural practice and traceability criteria backed by the ability to provide continuity and volume, said Maxwell.

Worldwide Fruit has annual sales of £110 million, of which 35 per cent is generated by UK-grown fruit and a substantial proportion is linked to its New Zealand interest, it also sources from a large number of other countries.