Key organisations in the horticulture industry are expected to be present at the NFU summit next month to look at how representative organisations, such as the union, can best respond to growers' changing needs.

Up for discussion will be a blueprint document on how to drive the sector in terms of promoting its image and lobbying. The meeting will be chaired by NFU vice-president Michael Paske. 'Never has the need for a single voice for the whole horticulture sector been greater and I hope that by calling all the various interested parties together old differences can be put aside for the greater good,' said Paske.

The summit comes following a review of the NFU's work in horticulture that began in the autumn of 2001 and was discussed at the union's last meeting of the horticulture executive.

The executive's chairman, Michael Holmes said: 'The NFU's work has continued behind the scenes on the raft of challenges facing the sector, from water legislation to cuts in research and development as well as marketing and promotion of the sector, for example through the five-a-day initiative.

'But horticulture is an ever-changing sector and the way to best represent and further its needs must be constantly reviewed. There is strength in numbers and our aim is to bring together all the key organisations under one roof to pool our views about how we can take representation of the industry forward together.'

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