More growers are needed for the organic price information system, which has been available to the sector through a joint project between HDRA and the Soil Association, for the first time this summer. Though the take up has been good, more growers are still required to provide prices for a greater range of crops.

The availability of price information has been timely and welcome for growers this summer, due to the bad weather affecting supplies. Pam Bowers of Strawberry Fields, Lincolnshire said: “Pricing information has never been more relevant than in this season. Usually I look back on the previous year and try to eke out another pence or two to bridge the widening gap of wage rise increases, escalating price of cardboard, increase plant raising costs - you name it. This season I don't know where to begin to try and compensate for crop losses.”

Although any grower can access the price information at www.soilassociation.org/pricedata, there are real advantages of signing up. Growers who supply data will have summary figures returned to them the following day. Other growers are able to access the data on the website, after a time delay of at least a week. The price information available includes monthly average prices for individual crops at the ex-farm, wholesale and retail levels, and anecdotal information on the state of the market.