Increased consumption of fruit and vegetables and sustainable opportunities for increasing domestic production of fresh produce are key elements of the government’s Food 2030, says the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC).

Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the FPC, said: “We believe that all sectors of the fresh produce industry must play a leading role in developing a sustainable food policy for the UK and the FPC is involved in the government’s fruit and vegetable task force, identified in the strategy as a key group to help drive forward this important agenda. It is disappointing that wholesalers are not named among the key sectors in the headline strategy given their important role in the supply chain.

“We welcome DEFRA’s commitment to reduce unnecessary burdens on the food industry and to carry out integrated inspections based on risk-based criteria. DEFRA recognises the cumulative impact of regulation on the economy, the need to influence policy-makers in the EU and to have early engagement with the food industry on issues.

“This strategy must be adopted across government and by others, including the Food Standards Agency (FSA), in relation to its implementation of the EU’s increased import controls of ‘high risk’ products. In a matter of weeks, the FSA will be responsible for the ridiculous imposition of additional costs, unnecessary delays and duplication of pre-notification of products, as well as wastage of highly perishable produce.”

The FPC believes that DEFRA should identify the crops indigenous to the UK with greater production potential than is achieved currently and ensure that the sector has the necessary tools to maximise this potential.

Jenney added: “Government departments can make a far greater impact to combat poor diets and rising obesity levels simply by having a cohesive policy for public sector food procurement which encourages greater consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, regardless of their origin, and in line with DEFRA’s own definition of ‘locally in season’, which includes imported produce.”

DEFRA’s definition of ‘locally in season’ is: ‘Food that is outdoor grown or produced during the natural growing/production period for the country or region where it is produced. It need not necessarily be consumed locally to where it is grown. This applies to seasonal food produced both in the UK and overseas’.

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