Attendees at a recent meeting of brassica growers have concluded that, “‘We might as well pack up and go home unless returns improve.”
According to the Brassica Growers Association, this season has seen shortages of workers, transport and packaging materials resulting in rapidly escalating costs for growers. But returns for fresh produce have remained static. “We thought last season was challenging with the Covid restrictions but 2021 has brought a whole new set of challenges,” reflected one grower.
Jack Ward CEO of British Growers said we are seeing similar comments across the fresh produce sector with other crops such as onions, carrots and leeks experiencing the same problems. “We’re reaching the time in the year where the sector is flat out and retailers depend on the UK’s growers for supplies of super fresh vegetables and fruit. We desperately need to see an improvement in returns to growers to cover these escalating input costs,” he commented, adding that labour costs have risen by as much as 15 per cent already as growers try to attract staff and compete with other industries.
Another grower commented, “We can’t operate in an environment where costs go up and up and product prices don’t – this is a road to ruin. Everyone is focused on improving efficiency and delivering more for less, but this can only go so far.” Unless there is some acceptance that returns to growers must reflect increased input costs, the appetite to soldier on and reinvest for the future is being seriously eroded.
Photo Caption: Jack Ward of British Growers