Laurence Olins, chairman of British Summer Fruits, has strongly denied claims that a substantial number of soft fruit growers are being blocked in their bid to build polytunnels.
A recent FPJ feature, titled Plastic Population, looked into the issue of the anti-polytunnels movement and how UK growers are overcoming the subsequent challenges.
Olins, also chairman of the Poupart group, which owns companies including Berry World and Orchard World, expressed his regret towards growers such as soft fruit grower Neil Cockburn, who recently had his permission to build polytunnels in the Wye Valley area rejected, but insists that he is in a minority.
He told FPJ: 'We disagree strongly with the negative comments made by some polytunnel suppliers which implies this [the anti-polytunnels movement] is a common, national problem. It is not. Polytunnels are an essential part of producing high quality good value British berries for the consumer.
'Given the inclement British weather, their necessity for berry production in the UK, and the benefits that the UK berry industry brings to the rural economy is widely understood and accepted. Both the government and local planning policy makers are supportive of the UK berry industry and its use of poly tunnels.'
Furthermore, Olins says that the government is firmly behind the soft fruit industry and that 'virtually all' planning applications for polytunnels have been approved over recent years.
