Save UK fruit and veg

British fruit and vegetable production is in crisis. Almost half our growers fear they could go out of business within a year. Meanwhile, the UK imports over 80 percent of our fruit and nearly half of all our vegetables.

This impacts what we eat. Poor diets that lack fresh fruit and veg lead to poor health. This then puts a big strain on our NHS.

We must act now.

Fruit and vegetable production, also known as horticulture, is the golden thread linking food security, public health and environmental sustainability. The new Government must stand up for fruit and veg growers, by reintroducing the previously dropped horticulture strategy. This would give vital support to the horticultural sector, which, in turn, would see benefits across all these areas. 

Recent modelling shows us that a transition to nature-friendly farming in the UK is possible. It could provide a sufficient and healthy diet to a growing population using ecological farming that's free of pesticides and artificial fertilisers, like organic. Plus, it could tackle the growing issues of climate impacts and wildlife decline.

We are facing multiple and intersecting crises in climate, nature and health. To tackle all of these, our food systems need a serious overhaul. This includes changing the way we grow, eat, and supply fruit and vegetables.

Our horticulture report sets out seven steps through which the UK Government can support the sector, and secure a sustainable future for fruit and veg production and consumption in England.