A Staffordshire farmer says he is unable to sell 500 tonnes of organic beetroot after new Brexit rules meant that his traditional buyers in Europe no longer want to deal with UK firms.
Will Woodhall grows beetroot and spring onions alongside cereals at his farm in Penkridge, Staffordshire. He says he expects to lose up to £90,000 on the beetroot after border rules introduced in January saw firms in the EU look elsewhere for perishable goods.
“I was driving down the road and got a phone call,” he told the BBC, “I was expecting it to be, ‘Can we have five more loads please?’ but it was ‘That’s it – no more homes for it.’ I’ve been trying to get rid of it left, right and centre, trying food schemes and various things. But haulage is an issue and no-one wants to pay for it.”
According to the report, ‘After Brexit, Mr Woodhall said he had anticipated problems and so had grown a smaller crop. When business boomed, he decided to increase production again, only to be suddenly cut off.’