‘Cheap food policy’ drives out British farmers

A “cheap food” policy is driving out British producers, MPS have heard.

Ali Capper, the executive chairwoman of British Apples and Pears told the environment, food and rural affairs committee that a “strategic change” was required to start championing produce grown locally.

She said: “We’ve got a cheap food policy in this country, and that cheap food policy is driving out British farming and British food producers.

“So we have to make a strategic change, in my opinion. We need to start championing what we can produce here at home, accepting that it isn’t the cheapest option for our consumer, but perhaps looking at the margin share in the supply chain.”

Earlier, Ms Capper had told the committee that over the past two years British apple growers had faced a 30 per cent increase in their production costs – primarily labour and energy – but had seen just 8 per cent back from the market.

She said: “Despite the 8 per cent back to the market, we are seeing price rises among the big retailers – Lidl’s red apples went up by 50 per cent in a two-year period.

“Morrisons British apples six pack went up by 39 per cent in a two-year period. Tesco increased the price of its Rosedene Farms Gala apples by 36 per cent in that same two-year period. So there’s an inequity in the margin share. Government policy around a cheap food policy is driving poor buyer behaviour, it’s driving an increase in imports.”

Ms Capper told committee chairman Robert Goodwill that she wanted him to write to the chief executive of every major retailer to call for a recognition of farm input inflation and for fair pricing.

She added: “You may choose to make an implicit threat that if they don’t, you will legislate for it.”