The Soil Association believes the UK must stop relying on imports, fix diets by doubling the land used to grow fruit and vegetables and back British nature-friendly farming.
The signatories include chefs Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Anna Jones alongside author Dr Chris van Tulleken and farming influencers like Sinead Fenton. They warn that if the current decline in British fruit and veg continues, the UK will ‘face further disaster’ for supermarket shelves, our health and the environment.
A new report from the Soil Association, Sustain and The Wildlife Trusts insists that farmers and growers must be given a fair deal and ‘put in the driving seat’ to deliver sustainable food security and healthy diets.
Campaigners highlighted the ‘vulnerability’ of UK horticulture, warning that public health will be further at risk if current trends continue and production declines further. Imports account for most of the fruit and nearly half of the veg consumed in the UK, while less than a third of people eat their five a day.
The letter says: “Across the country, growers of all scales are working tirelessly to achieve a simple but vital mission: to nourish people with good food. But the sector faces devasting decline. Nearly half of our growers fear for the survival of their businesses and fruit and veg consumption in the UK is at the lowest level in half a century. Less than a third of us eat our five-a-day.
“The produce that does reach us is too often imported from countries that are increasingly impacted by extreme weather. Almost half of our veg and more than 80% of our fruit is imported. This cannot go on. We urgently need more – not less – home-grown fruit and veg, or we face further disaster for supermarket shelves, our health, and the environment.”
The Soil Association is also asking anyone who agrees with the asks of the letter to head to the charity’s website and sign a pledge to say they support homegrown fruit and veg.