Morrisons has revealed that it will help fruit and vegetable growers in the UK who have been affected by the wet summer weather by selling whole crops in its M Savers range, while accepting a wider variety of shaped vegetables to sell in store.
The retailer said that it would be working closely with growers who have been impacted by these conditions, buying entire crops of potatoes and carrots, with normal shaped produce sold in the group's standard range and 'knobbly' products placed in the M Savers selection. Payment terms to farmers will remain the same, the group noted.
"This will allow farmers to sell more of their crop and ensure that perfectly good British vegetables like potatoes and carrots are available for customers to buy,' Morrisons said. 'The price of the products will be based on their weight, ensuring customers continue to get great value for money."
In addition to potatoes and carrots, Morrisons will be accepting smaller broccoli, leeks and swedes in its standard vegetable range, as well as lightly weather-marked courgettes.
"As a result of this terrible weather we need to make sure that we make sure that we make more use of British crops," said Richard Hodgson, Morrisons group commercial manager. "We think these measures will ensure customers can buy more British food without affecting the taste or the cost.
"Morrisons works directly with many of its growers and we will be using these strong relationships to ensure the weather causes as little wastage as possible," he added.
