A report released last week by DEFRA shows that the public sector is sourcing more UK-grown food than it did a year ago, but there are some low points, particularly for fresh produce.

Farming and environment minister Jane Kennedy said the figures show government is taking the required action to create a level playing field for domestic growers and suppliers as part of its public sector food procurement initiative (PSFPI), launched five years ago to help deliver the Sustainable Farming & Food Strategy.

She said: “Small and local producers are the lifeblood of our food industry, and that is why we have made such an effort to increase the amount of local, seasonal food served by the public bodies. Buying local food and eating with the seasons where it is possible reduces the impact on the environment and supports our businesses, and the government is looking even further at how to increase the amount of British food we buy and increasing the opportunities for small producers and suppliers to tender for government contracts.”

DEFRA’s statistics showed that NHS Supply Chain is sourcing 70 per cent of its food from domestic sources, compared with 58.5 per cent a year ago.

However, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) believes that much more could be done. Lee Woodger, head of food chain at the union, told FPJ: “While we welcome the fact that the overall trend towards British produce is up, close analysis of the figures shows there is still some way to go. It is particularly concerning that some departments have actually seen a fall and that there has been a reduction in the amount of some British produce used, such as orchard fruit, since the last report.

“Ministers in each department need to engage in the PSFPI, so they can ensure that procurers in their departments are aware of the overall objectives of central government and their own responsibilities, and procurers need to be offered practical advice and guidance on how they can procure more domestic produce.

“Procurers should also be advised that PSFPI co-ordinators are employed in each government office to facilitate the initiative and that the NFU’s Food Chain Unit can also offer help and advice.”

Procurement of UK-grown apples, pears and plums fell from 46 per cent of the total in 2006-07 to just 30 per cent in 2007-08.

And procurement of vegetables outside the categories of brassicas, legumes, salads and root crops fell from 61 per cent to 47 per cent of home-grown product over the same period.