Growers’ recent efforts to raise awareness of duplication in farm audits seem to be paying dividends with the news that the Red Tractor and Assured Food Standards scheme will be revamped. The promise of dramatically reduced audits is very welcome, and the support of Peter Kendall is telling.
If AFS can achieve its aim of integrating other schemes under the one banner and eliminating repetitive audits then it will be a great step forward.
On another subject, growers have become used to praying for the right kind of weather, but the past fortnight’s washout has been catastrophic for many producers’ livelihoods.
Clearly, with large swathes of numerous vegetable crops wiped out, there will be a shortage of UK supply to the supermarkets. This might in turn lead to higher prices at retail.
What is vital is that supermarkets share the cost of this setback. The downpours might not be their fault, but it isn’t growers’ faults either, so unless the multiples support them through this time then they could be left without the local suppliers that they claim to cherish so much.
Only collective understanding throughout the supply chain can sustain the industry at times like this.
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