British berry growers have warned that without fair returns from retailers and support from the government, the sector faces an impending crisis of sustainability. The warning was issued as a new independent report on the economics of the sector was launched at the House of Lords on 13 May.
With production costs soaring and grower returns failing to keep pace, nearly half of all strawberry and raspberry farmers are no longer making a profit. The report, The British berry industry in focus, was conducted by renowned consultancy Ernst & Young (EY) and claims to be the most comprehensive analysis ever conducted by the British soft fruit industry.
It was commissioned to provide policymakers, retailers and regulators with the facts about the berry industry’s contribution to UK plc, and its figures (based on 50 per cent industry participation) show that 53 per cent of growers are in poor financial health, and more than a third are actively considering scaling back production or exiting berry farming altogether. Meanwhile, while production costs have risen by 30 per cent, the average return to growers has only increased by 3.5p per punnet, despite retailers raising shelf prices by as much as 27p.
“This survey is a wake-up call and a sign to take urgent action,” said Nick Marston, chair of British Berry Growers. “The future of this great sector hangs in the balance. It would be a travesty to lose British berries.
“We need government and retailers to help us help Britain. Retailers, very simply by recognising the cost-of-production inflationary pressures and the need to compensate growers for this. And government by evolving a rolling and fit-for-purpose workers visa scheme, delivering a clear national planning framework that facilitates the building of critical infrastructure, and unlocking funding for improved productivity and technology.”
Nick added that, with the right support, the British berry industry “can evolve to support ongoing growth of the domestic market and take advantage of a real opportunity to grow more crop for export.” This would build on the £624 million per year in in Gross Value Added the sector contributes to the economy. It provides 16,317 full-time jobs, pays £134 million a year in tax, and boosts the wider rural economy and supporting local services and jobs.
Registered nutritionist, author and podcaster Rhiannon Lambert used the event to emphasise the many health benefits of berries, including being high in fibre, vitamins and antioxidants.
“In a world where so much noise exists around ultra-processed and HFSS foods, it is important to remember just how easy a win berries are for families across the UK,” she said. “We already see hundreds of thousands of people adding berries to cereals, porridge, yoghurts and smoothies. If we can persuade these shoppers to do this at least two or three days a week and can persuade others to try it at least once or twice a week, we can make an enormous difference.
“Ultra-processed and HFSS foods have multi-million-pound ad and PR budgets to seduce consumers with, but our brilliant British berry growers don’t. If government and retailers are serious about public health, they need to be serious about helping us be just as seductive with fresh food.”
As one journalist who attended the event summarised, ‘The message from growers is clear: without fairer returns, improved labour access, and more supportive trading conditions, the future of British berries is at risk.’
