Firms will have to pass on extra costs of red tape, warns Fresh Produce Consortium.
Philip Simpson, commercial director at ReFood, discusses the findings of WRAP’s recent report into commercial food waste trends and explains why the supply chain must be prepared for further disruption as we head into 2023.
The rain in Spain has largely been blamed, but is it the only factor?
'£200k of seafood wasted and that's just the beginning. Sorry Jeremy Hunt, Brexit has been devastating'
30/01/2023
At New Smithfield Market the Chancellor's claims that Brexit would 'energise' Britain's economy were given short shrift.
BREXIT is to blame for conditions that caused a Scottish blueberry farmer to donate his £3 million crop to charity, according to an SNP MP. / Peter Thomson, who has around 60 acres of blueberry bushes on his farm in Blairgowrie, announced that it was no longer economically worthwhile for him to harvest the crop due to the value of the fruit falling by around £1 million this year.
National Farmers Union calls for post-Brexit rules on seasonal workers to be eased to plug gaps.
Farming union chief says situation ‘nothing short of a travesty’, as crops also hit by drought and record heat.
The Government’s Fantasy Food Strategy
07/08/2022
The government’s food strategy lacks detail or any plans for implementation, and it is contradicted by its other policies.
Rural voters say they’re being neglected by the government – and farmers are disgruntled too, warning that rising costs could lead to food shortages… and that post-Brexit trade deals will see them losing out to cheap imports.
With a lack of foreign labour in Britain’s fields, crops are rotting and thousands of healthy pigs are being culled unnecessarily.
British food prices are set to surge 15% this summer and will remain high for at least a year, in a further blow to hard-pressed consumers already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, according to a report released on Thursday.
Cabinet minister in ‘complete denial’ over Brexit harm to Britain’s economy which experts put at £31 billion
13/06/2022
Treasury silent on damage being caused by Brexit to Britain’s economy and Bank of England accused of being reluctant to talk about it.
Kent farming giant reports 8% fall in harvest due to lack of seasonal pickers – saying it’s easier to import fruit.
It comes as Brexit means fall in crops and fewer British products in supermarkets. / Leaving the EU has led to a decline in crops and fewer home-grown products on the shelves of Britain’s supermarkets, farming chiefs have warned, reports The Independent.
A recent government report warned that labour shortages "caused by Brexit and accentuated by the pandemic" were badly affecting our food and farming sector, with fruit suppliers often forced to leave produce rotting in the fields.
UK faces food shortages as up to 75% of seasonal worker roles unfilled – even Mail admits Brexit a factor
20/05/2022
Before Brexit most of Britain's seasonal crop pickers came over from eastern Europe.
Several hundred tonnes of beetroot have been left to rot on Will Woodhall's farm in central England due to Brexit.
'Brexit red tape' leaves Staffordshire farmer with 500 tonnes of beetroot and £90,000 loss
11/04/2022
A farmer has told ITV News Central 500 tonnes of beetroot has been left to rot because his usual European customers are looking elsewhere.
Five hundred tonnes of beetroot is being left to rot due to a collapse in demand, caused by Brexit, a farmer says.
Labour shortages caused by Brexit and accentuated by the COVID pandemic have badly affected businesses across the food and farming sector and could cause ‘permanent’ damage, UK lawmakers stated in a report published on Wednesday (6 April).
Crops left unharvested, healthy pigs culled and increased costs which will ultimately have to be swallowed by the consumer. Not going well, is it?
Brexit and pandemic could ‘permanently damage’ British food and farming industry [4 mins]
06/04/2022
Labour shortages and price rises triggered by Brexit and the pandemic could leave the British food and farming industry permanently damaged, MPs have warned.
Mass culling of 35,000 pigs and tonnes of crops being left to rot 'caused by Brexit', committee finds
06/04/2022
A lack of food and farm workers “caused by Brexit and accentuated by the pandemic” meant at least 35,000 pigs were culled and tonnes of crops left to rot in the fields last year, a damning report has revealed.
Cost of living crisis: Brexit labour shortage could ‘permanently’ push up food prices, MPs warn
06/04/2022
The Covid pandemic has exacerbated the problems caused by Britain leaving the EU, the report found.
DWP to promote Brexit ‘career opportunities’ in fruit picking to stop food rotting in fields again
29/03/2022
Produce has gone unpicked after EU migrant workers stayed away.