British Summer Fruits has distributed an information document on polytunnels to its members, as the industry attempts to defuse public criticism of its use of the structures with hard facts.
Commissioned by BSF and written by Jessica Berens, the four-page leaflet has been sent to marketing companies for onward distribution to growers. It details the benefits of polytunnels to the UK soft-fruit industry, addresses common misconceptions about polytunnels, and outlines the NFU/BSF code of practice for the use of polytunnels.
“This is not meant to be used pre-emptively,” said Laurence Olins, BSF chairman. “It is a tool for growers to use when their local population asks for information.
“Growers can of course do what they want with the information once they have it. But the situation is different in production areas around the country; some have not been under pressure at all on this issue.”
Local councils are awaiting the result of a hearing on the Surrey soft-fruit farm of Hall Hunter before they decide what direction to take. The eventual report on the case is likely to go a long way to shaping the future of polytunnels in the UK.
A second hearing of the issues, surrounding a complaint tabled by Waveney Borough Council will take place in Godalming on May 10-13. If all information and views have been presented by the end of that session, it will be a further six weeks before a final report is published. Either party would then have 28 days to appeal against the findings and it is unlikely that, should that be the case, any appeal will be heard until next year.
“When this process ends, either all hell will break loose or nothing at all will happen,” predicted Olins. But in the meantime, BSF has armed its members with a common industry position.
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