Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee chairman Michael Jack MP has made a strong plea to the whole of the horticultural industry, to submit its views on any future policy issues they think may affect them.
Jack, former director of north-west salads company LO Jeffs and now head of the influential cross-party select committee, said that because horticulture lies outside the main part of the Common Agricultural Policy, it is not as voluble as other mainstream sectors of subsidised agriculture.
“If one looks at the structural problems horticulture has had to cope with, certainly in the last decade, the industry has understandably been concentrating a great deal on sorting itself out, because of the changed nature of the supply chain, particularly in terms with category management coming in with the supermarket and the pressure that is put on them,” said the minister.
“But what I would say to everyone in our horticultural industry is that if you think there are aspects of the industry our committee should be investigating, please help us to understand what they are and where you want us to have a look.”
Jack added that he is very conscious it is some years since the Committee looked at the horticultural industry, which has changed dramatically, both on the food and ornamental side, since then. He has now put the ball into the industry’s court to contact him, and said there is no timescale on this request.
He said the horticultural industry has a great deal to contribute to the debate on food miles. The industry is under pressure to maintain a 52-week supply and has to fill in the gaps out of their season by importing from other areas, he recognised.
And polytunnels are simply extending the season so that imports can be reduced to some extent.
“Horticulture is right at the forefront of some of the most challenging areas for future agricultural policy and as I have said, if the industry wants us to look at these issues, particularly where government or the EU was involved, our door is open,” said Jack.
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