The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) defended airfreighted fresh produce during fringe meetings at both the Labour and Conservative Party conferences.
The consortium played an active part in debates in Manchester and Birmingham.
Speaking at the Conservative Party fringe event, in Birmingham this week, Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the FPC, said: “We need to tackle the impact of climate change, but let’s keep airfreight in perspective. Total airfreighted imports of fruit and vegetables account for a mere 0.2 per cent of total UK greenhouse gas emissions.
“There is no evidence that fewer aircraft would fly if consumption of imported fruit and vegetables was reduced. At least 60 per cent of airfreighted fresh produce is brought to the UK in the hold of passenger aircraft. The Soil Association is pushing to ban airfreighted organic produce unless farmers carry out bureaucratic, expensive, time- consuming measures. This would do immense damage to the livelihoods of farmers in developing countries, who need fast access to European markets.”
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