The future of the Public Sector Produce Supplies (PSPS) grower co-operative is in some doubt after it emerged this week that the organisation has severed ties with the company administering its schools contract.
The co-operative was formed in February to fulfill a £700,000 contract to supply fresh produce to schools in the Leeds City Council area.
The administration was being co-ordinated by FEASTnet. However PSPS and FEAST parted company following a “difference of opinion” surrounding the running and future direction of the partnership.
PSPS chairman Graham Ward of Snaith Salads said that following a falling out and disagreements over packing arrangements the two sides had decide to go their separate ways, and FEAST is now sourcing its produce from elsewhere.
“People running different sides of the operation did not see eye to eye,” he explained.
PSPS is currently in discussions regarding other possible outlets for the group’s produce, he said, but due to the lengthy nature of getting public supply arrangements in place it would probably be some time before new contracts are finalised.
Ward added that PSPS sees the experience as a ‘learning curve’ and it is a case of the two sides learning how each other work.
Rebecca Roberts of FEASTnet confirmed that there had been a falling out, suggesting that following the first few months some of the growers had considered operating without her firm as administrator. This made the relationship untenable and led to a split between those growers wishing to continue with FEASTnet and those that did not.
Leeds City Council said that as the supply contract was with FEASTnet and not with the growers themselves, it was up to FEASTnet where it sourced its produce from, she added.
Roberts told Commercial Grower that some of the PSPS growers, including Metcalfe’s and Hedon Salads, are continuing to supply the contract, alongside Direct Fruit Supplies in Leeds and B&F in Pickering. She is also still hoping to work with brassica supplier David Westwood and Snaith on curly lettuce.
On a more positive note, Roberts confirmed that FEASTnet last week began a contract worth in the region of £500,000 to supply produce to North Yorkshire schools.
And Roberts implored growers to get in touch if they are interested in supplying to the public sector, with plums, apples and pears in particular demand.
