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BBG members make up the biggest crop group in UK horticulture, accounting for circa 30,000 of the Seasonal Workers' Scheme (SWS) visas. Workers are generally based on one location for the period of employment in the UK - which is different to other short season crops within UK horticulture.

The current scheme for the supply of seasonal labour to UK agriculture was constructed by the last government post Brexit and regulates the supply of seasonal workers through a small group of providers. The implications of this policy decision are - • Growers who previously had a GLAA license and the ability to recruit direct now have to pay circa £300 per head to use a service provider. Even when staff return the following year the cost is still £300 per head. • The service providers are now sourcing from new territories, often outside of the EEC - such as the Russian Stan States, the Far East, Africa and South America. All of which require long flights or multiple flights to the UK, which by definition are expensive. • Workers have to purchase a UK visa from the Government at £350 per visa, some £10.5 million of Government income from the berry sector alone. In addition workers from the new territories often have to pay an ‘admin’ fee to their national government to work abroad. • Under the EPP principle, grower recruitment costs paid to third parties, with visa and transport added, would reach £1,500-£2,000 per head from the current £300 per head. If we assume 30,000 workers recruited for the British berry industry, this will cost our industry between £45m and £60m pa in new costs. • An EY survey of the UK berry production sector completed in July 2024 shows a total farm gate return of £577 million[1] and an average EBITDA of 4.3%. Without mitigation through cost recovery from retailers – and ultimately consumers should retailers choose to charge higher retail prices – BBG anticipates this extra cost, if borne by growers, could lower industry EBITDA to between -3.5% and -6.1% which would destroy the entire sector at a stroke. British Berry Growers Position The interpretation of the ILO guidance that Sedex has selected is in contradiction to the interpretation of ILO guidance currently being used by the UK government in the Seasonal Workers Scheme, which states that visa costs are not required to be paid by the employer and that travel costs should only be paid if the employee is given no choice over the route, method and cost of travel. If the employee is free to make their own choice, then that travel cost does not need to be paid by the employer. Retailers via the BRC are working with Defra on a jointly funded Employer Pays Principle (EPP) feasibility study, which will investigate the potential use of the EPP for the Seasonal Worker visa route. This report is due to be completed in Spring 2025. The BBG position is that the burden of cost cannot be absorbed by our members without the cost being underwritten by either retailers or the Government. Given the current UK government position above, the ongoing work on the feasibility of actioning the EPP, and the need to have absolute clarity and unanimous agreement from the retail industry on both how the EPP would be delivered and how the cost would be borne, we ask the following • The current requirement for Employer Pays travel and Visa costs should be removed from the SEDEX 7.0 audit standard until the above two points have been agreed jointly by the BRC on behalf of all retailers, and the industry. • In the interim the BRC on behalf of all retailers confirm that no action will be taken on audit non-conformance on the above point. • That in future all Farm and Packhouse Assurance Schemes should have a mandatory requirement for a proper governance structure which allows for full consultation of all stakeholders, consideration of all the consequences of the scheme requirements including both cost and practicality, and a jointly agreed action plan for any agreed change involving all stakeholders. • Should the EPP be adopted, along with other initiatives of this type which may be proposed in future (such as the increasing cost of travel linked to net zero surcharges), the costs must be identified as a separate cost line within retailer pricing so that the cost to growers is fully recognised and recompensed. ENDS References [1] The survey was based on sampling 46% of the BBG membership by volume and the results obtained were first grossed up to represent the full BBG membership output, and then further grossed up to represent the full industry including growers who are not part of BBG.

Despite resilience in the face of tough market conditions, berry growers have increasing  concerns over the future of their industry, with nearly half of growers no longer profitable.

·       37% of UK growers surveyed are thinking of reducing production or moving out of berry growing.  ·       Michelin-starred chef and Great British Menu main course winner Tom Shepherd, says nothing compares to British berries as he backs growers.  ·       The value of the British berry industry in year-round retail sales hits high of £1.87 billion.   London, England: According to new research conducted by British Berry Growers (BBG), the industry body representing over 95 percent of British berries sold in the UK, the UK berry industry is in jeopardy. Almost half (47 percent) of British berry growers surveyed say they no longer make a profit,1 and over half (53 percent) assess their financial health as bad, or extremely bad.2  The BBG research also finds 84 percent of all respondents estimate that they would survive just two years or less without making a profit.3 Given close to half of growers (47 percent) are not making a profit, if nothing changes, then four in 10 could go out of business by the end of 2026.4   Given the profitability challenges, it is not surprising that 37 percent of growers surveyed are considering reducing their production or moving out of berry farming entirely.5 If not addressed, the UK could see a future massive reduction in the supply of fresh British berries for consumers.   The UK is famous for growing some of the best quality berries in the world. Its temperate climate and water availability, coupled with world-leading technology in substrate production and automation has made Britian the envy of the berry-growing world. Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd, has also pledged his support for local growers, saying British berries are amongst the very best available.   Concerns about the future of the sector come as the value of the British berry industry in year-round retail-sales reaches an all-time high of £1.87 billion. In the last 12 months, shoppers spent a record £847.5 million on strawberries.6  However, conditions for British berry growers have been worsening over recent years; 89 percent of growers who are no longer profitable say they stopped making a profit after 2020.7 This is due in no small part to the rise in the cost of production.  Costs of labour, fertilisers, packaging and transport have all increased by £836 per tonne for British strawberries in the last four years – with British raspberries, blackberries and blueberries increasing £1,911 per tonne, £1,996 per tonne and £2,326 per tonne respectively.8   Over half of the investment in producing a punnet of strawberries is hourly paid labour, a cost that has increased significantly over the last four years.  Despite these challenges, the British berry industry is working hard to continue growing the highest quality fruit for UK shoppers. All four British berries are in the height of their seasonality this July, which marks National Berry Month, celebrating the versatility and health benefits of berries.   Nick Marston, Chairman of British Berry Growers said: “Supermarkets are starting to listen. They are recognising that growers need a fair return to cover the increased costs of production, otherwise they’ll simply move out of berry growing. However, relationships with supermarkets have been hurt by the lack of support in recent years – 39% of our growers say their relationship with retailers has never been this bad.9  “We must take this survey as a wake-up call and a sign to take urgent action. The future of this great sector hangs in the balance. It would be a travesty to lose British berries.  “We need support from retailers in the form of fair returns, but we also need support from the government to ensure we have an uninterrupted supply of pickers during our peak season. Increasing the length of seasonal worker scheme visa from six to nine months would ensure we get the people we need to pick our fruit throughout our extended growing season. We are also calling for an agile and more responsive approval process for berry exports from the UK that would allow British growers to take advantage of market opportunities in the EU and further afield.  “This feedback from UK berry growers is a warning – a warning we need to take seriously if we are to secure the future of our iconic berries.”  Michelin-starred chef and Great British Menu main course winner, Tom Shepherd, commented: “There’s nothing that compares with British-grown berries. They’re sweet, fragrant and full of magnificent colour and flavour. They are incredibly versatile and can be used to create a range of vibrant, fresh and tasty recipes. Throughout my career, I’ve always been so excited and proud to use British berries when in season, I use them throughout my menus, freshening up a salad, adding acidity to a main course and naturally, at the end of the meal, as a beautifully fresh dessert.    “As a chef who loves to use local produce, I feel so lucky to have some of the very best berries in the world right on my doorstep, and to have them available for so much of the year. It would be a disaster if Britain were to lose this great product. I would encourage everyone to go out and buy some berries, enjoy them and support local growers. We must secure a sustainable future for one of the nation’s leading products.”  List of British Berry Growers policy asks:   ·       Seasonal worker visa scheme extension from six to nine months  ·       RPA scheme extension  ·       A robust national planning framework  ·       A thriving British berry industry  ·       A better relationship with retailers  ·       A simpler way to export British berries overseas  Further information on these policy asks can be found here.   END   For more information, interviews and images please contact:        britishberrygrowers@redbrickroad.com   020 7575 7654       07788 671 272      NOTES TO EDITORS      About British Berry Growers       British Berry Growers is the industry body for the British berry industry, which is worth £1.87 billion to the UK economy. Its members supply over 95 percent of the berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries) in UK supermarkets. Formerly known as British Summer Fruits, British Berry Growers directs world-leading berry research, represents the interests of berry growers to Government and funds Love Fresh Berries, a year-round consumer campaign that celebrates the taste, health and value of British berries.    Research:   ·       Andersons Midlands Report prepared by John Pelham, May 2023, ‘Increases in the UK costs of production of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries for the five year period 2020-2024’. The information on which this report is based has been drawn from a panel of UK soft fruit growers and validated by Andersons Midlands from their own data and experience of the economics of UK soft fruit production.  ·       A survey of 38 British berry growers who represent 43% of British Berry Grower members which represent 98% of the industry, June 2024.    References:   1. British Berry Growers survey, Q2 2024.  2. British Berry Growers survey, Q2 2024.  3. British Berry Growers survey, Q2 2024  4. British Berry Growers survey, Q2 2024; 84 percent of 47 percent = 40 percent  6. Kantar monthly soft fruit sales data w/c 14th April 2024  7. British Berry Growers survey, Q2 2024  8. 2020-2024 Andersons Midlands Report, 04.06.2024  9. British Berry Growers survey, Q2 2024 

Co-op has been crowned retailer of the year by British Berry Growers at the crop association’s yearly retailer event in London. 
 

The annual award is presented to the retailer that has achieved the highest growth in berry sales (volume). Co-op achieved a total increase of 22.1% in volume sales across all berries, ahead of Marks & Spencer with a total increase of 13% and Lidl with an increase of 6.7%.1    Commenting on the achievement, British Berry Growers’ chairman Nick Marston said: “Co-op’s commitment to buying British berries has been growing year on year. With a rise of 22.1% volume sales across all berries, we are delighted to see Co-op ‘over-indexing’ on year-on-year growth. It’s an achievement we hope other retailers will emulate.”    Retailers are enjoying rising sales of berries. Kantar data shows volume sales of berries has soared 7.7% in the past five months (May to October 2023), outpacing growth of just 0.8% across all fruit.2 This has been driven largely by price promotions and premium own-label berry lines which have encouraged shoppers to trade-up.   Value sales are also up 11.4% for all berries, while all fruit has grown 7.8% in value.3 The only berry in decline was raspberries, which British Berry Growers attributed to disproportionally high labour costs forcing growers to scale back production.   Despite the surge in sales, UK berry growers continue to face serious challenges, with input costs increasing by over 30% over the last two years.  “We’re delighted by the growth in sales and Co-op’s commitment to driving penetration in the category. It’s so important all our supermarkets get behind our growers. Buying British over imported berries saves on food miles, and we know consumers want British where possible.”  Mark Cloudy, Co-op Buyer, said: “Co-op are delighted to have received recognition as Retailer of the Year from the British Berry Growers Association - It’s been a fantastic year for the team, from being the first retailer to reveal it was providing 100% British strawberries for the King’s Coronation, to our ongoing support and close working relationships with our British growers and suppliers throughout the season – a partnership approach which has delivered a 22% growth this year on British berries volumes, and provided great taste, quality and value for our Members and customers in communities across the UK.”  leading berry research, represents the interests of berry growers to Government and funds Love Fresh Berries, a year-round consumer campaign that celebrates the taste, health, and value of British berries.  REFERENCES  1. British Berry Growers member data  2. Kantar data, 14.05.23 to 01.10.23  3. Kantar data, 14.05.23 to 01.10.23  4. Andersons Midlands Farm Business report conducted for British Berry Growers, October 2023  5. Andersons Midlands Farm Business report conducted for British Berry Growers, October 2023  6. British Berry Growers member data  7. British Berry Growers member data 

Amidst the huge consumer demand for British berries there is concern over the industry’s viability with spiralling production costs and low retailer returns  

A new survey by British Berry Growers, the industry body representing 95 percent of British berries sold in the UK, has found that 80 percent of British berry growers feel they no longer have partnership relationships with UK supermarkets1. In fact, not a single grower said that they had ‘a true partnership’ with their retail customer2. Almost half (40 percent) of grower respondents said that UK supermarkets are only interested in buying on price3. Confidence in the future of the berry industry is also low, with two-thirds (68 percent) of British berry growers reporting that they have scaled back their future investment plans4. Only 4 percent of grower respondents said they are planning to invest more in the future5. These revelations come on top of an independent study by consultancy Andersons Midlands which showed that supermarket returns are failing to meet growers’ inflationary costs of production6. Andersons reported that between 2021 and 2023 it cost on average 18p more to produce a punnet of strawberries (400g); 21p more to produce a punnet of raspberries (200g); 23p more to produce a punnet of blueberries (200 grams); and 21p more to produce a punnet of blackberries (200g)7. Yet, the amount paid by UK supermarkets on average for a punnet of strawberries and raspberries within this period increased by just 4p (2.3 percent) and 11p (6.9 percent) respectively8. Whilst the amount paid for a punnet of blackberries and blueberries actually decreased by 6p (- 4.6 percent) and 13p (-7.5 percent) respectively9. Despite supermarket returns that are failing to match cost of production increases, and consumer price rises, shopper demand for British berries continues to grow significantly year-on-year. Data firm Kantar reports a 11.4 percent growth in the value of the UK berry market since 2022 from £782.4 million to £871.3 million. In the same time period, market volume grew by 8 percent with 126.9 million tons being sold10. The growth outstrips that of the wider fruit category (including berries) – whose value grew just 7.8 percent and 0.8 percent in volume11. However, British Berry Growers has issued a warning that this growth is unsustainable in the long-term. Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers said: “Growers will go out of business and those that do survive will reduce their investment in planting unless there is urgent action to address fairer returns within the domestic market. “It’s clear that consumers want to buy British berries. But we’re not going to be able to meet that demand if the industry contracts.” British Berry Growers’ concerns are echoed in this week’s cross-party House of Lords Horticultural Sector Committee’s report. The report acknowledges the harm that the lack of long-term contracts and fair returns is doing and further argues that the sector is “under-prioritised and unappreciated” by policymakers. In a step towards greater transparency earlier this year, British Berry Growers took the unprecedented step of publishing weekly retail sales data from its members to reveal which supermarkets are the most supportive of British berries. Whilst berry sales increased overall in 2023, some retailers showed far higher growth than others highlighting the potential for extra sales the berry category offers to the whole High Street. Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers continued: “It makes little sense that retailers are increasing the price per punnet for consumers but not passing this onto the growers who need it to cover their spiralling costs of production. “It’s not a shock to us that the House of Lords Horticultural Sector Committee said the future of horticulture looks 'bleak'. We hear about those struggles from our members every day. “We urge supermarkets to do the right thing by their growers and we urge the government to take urgent steps to address seasonal labour uncertainties, unfair returns and secure long-term growth. This is not just about berry growers – the future of UK food security, biodiversity and our nation’s health is at stake.” References: 1. British Berry Growers 2023 Autumn Survey data 2. British Berry Growers 2023 Autumn Survey data 3. British Berry Growers 2023 Autumn Survey data 4. British Berry Growers 2023 Autumn Survey data 5. British Berry Growers 2023 Autumn Survey data 6. 2021-2023 Andersons Midlands Report Autumn 31st October 23 7. 2021-2023 Andersons Midlands Report Autumn 31st October 23 8. British Berry Growers 2023 Autumn Survey data 9. British Berry Growers 2023 Autumn Survey data 10. Kantar data from 14-05-23 to 01-10-23 11. Kantar data from 14-05-23 to 01-10-23

• Advanced grower techniques lead to blackberries that are larger and sweeter than their hedgerow counterparts 

• British shop-bought blackberries are larger and sweeter than hedgerow varieties.  

• Grower techniques ensure that British blackberries are available from April until November, enjoying a 36-week season. 

• The berry industry is now worth £1.7 billion in retail sales year-round1 and is estimated to contribute £3.18 billion to the UK economy in the next five years.2 

Senior agronomists have announced that this year’s blackberry season has produced a very high-quality crop, sweeter and larger than their hedgerow counterparts. The work of UK growers has ensured a strong harvest this year, with peak production now underway. While bramble hedgerow blackberries are appearing, these berries are smaller and do not have the same high flavour profile as expert-grown British blackberries. British berry growers now grow “new generation” varieties. These varieties are more than twice the size of the standard hedgerow blackberry. They have been developed to be sweet, juicy and large—perfect for both snacking and cooking. Shop-bought blackberries are carefully bred by expert pomologists, while hedgerow blackberries are made up of around 300 wild sub-species with many degrees of sweetness and bitterness. As a result, even in good years, the quality of hedgerow harvesting is inconsistent compared to the high quality of shop-bought blackberries. Additionally, UK shoppers will be able to enjoy British blackberries well beyond hedgerow season thanks to special techniques used by blackberry growers. This includes picking blackberries from plants that are just one year old to secure the most flavourful fruit, and placing plants in cold stores to artificially stretch out their winter dormancy and prolong fruiting once they are out in the fields. These techniques mean that British blackberries are available on supermarket shelves from April through to November. Customers look for larger berries – and thanks to skilled growers, they will be able to enjoy large, juicy blackberries even as the weather turns cold. The commercial British blackberry season now runs for 36 weeks of the year. The berry industry in Britain is big business, with the year-round retail sales of berries standing at an all-time high of £1.7 billion.3 The berry industry is estimated to contribute £3.18 billion to the British economy in the next five years.4   Berries remain a staple for British shoppers—fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries) continue to be the most popular fruit item in shoppers’ baskets, with the largest market share (28%) of all fruit sold in the UK.5 Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, the industry body that represents 95 percent of berries supplied to UK supermarkets said: “Shoppers this year will be able to enjoy sweet and juicy British blackberries well beyond hedgerow season thanks to the advanced techniques of our growers. Whether eating them in their natural state or using them in a recipe, you can enjoy blackberries that are consistent in their excellent taste and appearance thanks to the hard work and innovation of British growers. “Blackberries have numerous health benefits—they're particularly high in vitamin C, fibre, and vitamin K. Blackberries are also high in manganese, which helps boost bone development and the absorption of nutrients. There’s also research that they may contribute to brain health. “Eating fresh, natural food is the basis of our Nature’s Vitamin campaign, which highlights the importance of getting fresh berries into your diet due to their many health benefits.” Healthy blackberry recipes: Superfast superfood salad Superberry kale and roasted garlic bruschetta Spiced lamb skewers with blackberry quinoa salad Vitamin C smoothie Blackberry and beetroot hummus   Blackberry health facts:   Great source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and manganese. Contain dietary fibre which helps your digestive system function. May help with brain function and help prevent memory loss. Help prevent bacteria that can cause oral disease. Low in calories, carbohydrates and fat.6   There is a range of over 60 sweet and savoury blackberry recipes available to try on the Love Fresh Berries website at www.lovefreshberries.com/recipes. REFERENCES Kantar monthly sales data 06.08.23 High level assessment of contribution of English berry businesses to the economy Report by Chavereys, commissioned by British Berry Growers, 05.04.23 Kantar monthly sales data 06.08.23 High level assessment of contribution of English berry businesses to the economy Report by Chavereys, commissioned by British Berry Growers, 05.04.23 Kantar monthly sales data 06.08.23 Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-blackberries

• Pollination plans have helped create a robust British blueberry crop this year that has withstood the unseasonal weather. 

• Peak production is now underway (w/c 21 August). 

• The berry industry is now worth £1.7 billion in retail sales year-round1 and is estimated to contribute £3.18 billion to the UK economy in the next five years.2  

The wettest July since 2009 and the sixth wettest July ever3 was a major concern for UK berry growers – blueberries are particularly sensitive to overly wet conditions.    However, agronomists are delighted with how the crop has grown and stood up to the unseasonably wet weather – and they say that this is in large part thanks to bumblebees.   Blueberry flowers prefer a special pollination mechanism known as ‘buzz pollination’ and bumblebees are particularly skilled at this technique, which involves the bee vibrating the flower to dislodge the pollen.   This method ensures efficient pollen transfer and fertilisation of the flower, resulting in higher fruit set and better fruit quality.   Bumblebee-pollinated blueberry plants also result in more tiny seeds inside the berry. This tends to produce a bigger, firmer fruit – which can be an indicator of higher fruit quality and also greater weather resilience.   This year, British blueberry growers have employed particularly robust bumblebee pollination schemes – with one major grower bringing in over 3,000 bumblebee hives. This has resulted in a crop which is better able to stand up to the unseasonal summer weather.   Each week, blueberry growers do a weekly crop walk to ensure there are enough bumblebees across their farms – before making plans to bring in further hives if needed. Growers also collaborate with local beekeepers to bring honeybee hives onto their farms to boost pollination.    Many growers are also enhancing the number of other pollinators on their farms. They are planting wildflowers adjacent to crops to encourage a diverse range of pollinators which help biodiversity as well as the blueberries.   The careful work of UK growers and help from the bees has ensured a very good British blueberry harvest this year, with peak production underway now.4    Agronomists are reporting sweeter and larger blueberries with better varieties and the cool summer weather having a role in this. Cooler weather has seen the fruit ripen slowly which typically allows more time for sugars to accumulate to create that sweet taste.   Blueberries have quickly become a staple in British shopping baskets, gaining substantial popularity in the past two decades. UK production levels have risen significantly as more shoppers become aware of the strong health benefits of blueberries and are keen to reduce their food miles by buying home-grown fresh produce.   Often called a superfood, blueberries contain antioxidants which boost heart health and decrease risk factors for heart disease. They may also help brain function and boost memory, and studies show that they can aid in muscle recovery following exercise.5   Blueberries can be used in sweet and savoury recipes and are delicious both raw and cooked. With their proven health benefits, they are a perfect snack food for children going back to school.   The berry industry in Britain is big business, with the year-round retail sales of berries standing at an all-time high of £1.7 billion.6 The berry industry is estimated to contribute £3.18 billion to the British economy in the next five years.7   Berries remain a staple for British shoppers—fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries) continue to be the most popular fruit item in shoppers’ baskets, with the largest market share (28%) of all fruit sold in the UK.8   Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, the industry body that represents 95 per cent of berries supplied to UK supermarkets said: “British berry growers have demonstrated remarkable innovation in using pollination plans to create a robust blueberry crop this season that has withstood the unseasonable July weather. They have managed to grow a good and sweet tasting crop. The contribution of bumblebees to our farms has not only strengthened this year’s harvest but also highlighted the connection between bountiful crops and a thriving ecosystem.”   “We’re thrilled to witness the success of this year’s blueberry crop driven by skilled growers across the country. Only a few decades ago, at this time of year most blueberries on supermarket shelves were imported, that’s no longer the case. This underscores the need to support British growers for the work they do to boost the British economy and the nation’s health.   “As consumers gain awareness of the varied health benefits of blueberries, we are highlighting the importance of getting fresh berries in your diet through our Nature’s Vitamin campaign. Popping supplements cannot replace the goodness you get from eating fresh, home-grown food.”   Healthy blueberry recipes: Blueberry Bircher muesli Berry energy snack pot Roasted pumpkin, blueberries, and spiced lentils Vitamin C smoothie   Blueberry health facts:9   High in antioxidants, helping to protect your cells from damage. Help reduce the build-up of harmful cholesterol. Great source of vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, and manganese. Contain dietary fibre which helps your digestive system function. May help lower blood pressure and maintain good cardiovascular health.   There is a range of over 60 sweet and savoury blueberry recipes available to try on the Love Fresh Berries website at www.lovefreshberries.com/recipes. REFERENCES Kantar monthly sales data 09.07.23 High level assessment of contribution of English berry businesses to the economy Report by Chavereys, commissioned by British Berry Growers, 05.04.23 Climate summaries - Met Office, July 2023 British Berry Growers Actual Sales Tonnage Report week 31 2023  Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-blueberries Kantar monthly sales data 09.07.23 High level assessment of contribution of English berry businesses to the economy Report by Chavereys, commissioned by British Berry Growers, 05.04.23 Kantar monthly sales data 09.07.23 WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-blueberries

• Lidl tops the chart of major retailers as the most supportive of British berries, followed by Co-op, Aldi and Waitrose. 

• Asda is bottom of the list, just below Sainsbury’s, Iceland and Tesco – all buying significantly fewer British berries compared to their total grocery market shares. 

Britain is self-sufficient in strawberries from May to October. British raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries are in plentiful supply throughout the summer months. Fresh berries are the most popular fruit item in the nation’s shopping baskets – enjoying the biggest market share (28 percent) of all fruit sold in the UK1. Despite this abundance and demand for soft fruit, not all supermarkets are backing British berries. The British berry industry is under threat with supermarket returns failing to meet growers’ inflationary costs of production. Rising costs for energy, packaging, haulage, and labour are all contributing to grower cost increases. However, BBG members are reporting zero increase in what retailers paid for their strawberries in 2022.. This is despite berry prices going up for UK shoppers. Data from analyst firm Kantar shows that in the 2022 British season from May to September, supermarkets increased the average price of berries by 11 percent for consumers.   In a step towards greater transparency, British Berry Growers (BBG), the industry body representing 95% of berries sold in the UK, is now publishing weekly sales data from its members to reveal which supermarkets are most supportive of British berries, accessible here. The data will be published each Wednesday during the UK summer season and is presented in two ways. First, the total tonnes of British berries sold to UK supermarkets by BBG members, and second the percentage of total British berries sold compared to that supermarket’s grocery market share. Together, the weekly charts provide an accurate picture of which retailers are the most supportive of fresh British berries. For example, although last week (w/c 17.07.23), Tesco bought the most British berries (1,429.69 tonnes) of any UK supermarket, this equated to 25.7 percent of all British berries sold which is less than its 27.1 percent grocery market share.   Asda had the biggest discrepancy between its grocery market share (13.7 percent) and the percentage of all British berries sold to UK supermarkets (6 percent) in the latest data charts of the summer season. As of 26th July 2023, Lidl was the largest single supermarket to top the charts for total berries sold compared to their market share, followed by Co-op, Aldi and Waitrose. Nick Marston, Chairman of British Berry Growers said “The squeeze on the British berry industry, which faces rising production costs and flat returns from supermarkets, is seriously threatening the viability of the British berry industry.  “If we don’t address this disconnect, British berry growers will start to reduce the numbers of berries they grow or go out of the industry completely, as they are unable to make a profit. None of us wants that, least of all consumers, who love buying and eating British berries. “That’s why we have taken the step of publishing retail sales data collected from our members, so that the British public can see which retailers are most supportive of the British berry industry. We want to shine a light on retailer best practice and encourage consumers to challenge their supermarkets to stock British berries whenever possible.” The BBG sales data rankings will culminate in the British Berry Growers’ annual Retailer of The Year Award to be announced at The Carlton Club in November 2023. In addition to BBG calling for fairer returns for growers from UK supermarkets to ensure the future of the berry industry, the industry body is also calling for specific government support to help address the cost of production crisis in the form of a fit-for-purpose seasonal worker visa scheme. Specifically, BBG growers are seeking nine-month seasonal worker visas (currently six months) to ensure workers can cover the entire British berry picking season.   REFERENCES: 1 Kantar monthly sales data 16.04.23. 2 Parliament UK, British Berry Growers Written Evidence: committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/120065/pdf/. 3 Grocery market share data from Kantar’s World Panel: Week 29 17/07/2023 - 23/07/2023: https://www.kantarworldpanel.com/en/grocery-market-share/great-britain/snapshot and https://britishberrygrowers.org.uk/sales-data.

• An estimated 18 million fewer strawberry punnets could be on supermarket shelves in 2024. 
• The decline is a result of the rising cost of production and flat returns to growers from UK supermarkets. 
• If production continues to drop at this rate, the British berry industry may halve by 2031. 

According to British Berry Growers, the industry body representing 95% of British berries sold in the UK, British growers are reigning back strawberry planting plans in the face of stagnant returns and significant cost increases. A survey of BBG growers in June 2023 identified an eight percent reduction in the number of strawberry plants being planned for 2024.(1) This is likely to mean millions fewer British strawberry punnets on supermarket shelves next year. Berries have been in consistent growth as a category for a decade. The British public buys more berries year on year, but berry growers are struggling to survive. Growers report that returns from supermarkets have failed to cover increased costs. Growers have faced rising costs of labour, storage, haulage, planting, and farm maintenance, yet supermarket returns have remained flat. While the decline in strawberry production may not be that noticeable to consumers in 2023 as supermarket shelves are now filled with fresh strawberries, this analysis by British Berry Growers raises concerns around the sustainability of the industry in the long term. Financially stretched growers are starting to reassess their planting plans and will move to growing other crops or diversifying away from horticulture if they are unable to cover their costs. Urgent action is needed to address fairer returns within the domestic market to ensure the UK berry industry can invest in the future and maintain the same or even higher levels of strawberry production in the future to match consumer demand. The projected eight percent decline in strawberry plants for 2024 is equivalent to an estimated 12 million fewer strawberry plants and 9 million fewer punnets. While this may not be enough to be immediately noticeable for consumers, it is a concern for the future sustainability of the industry. In response to these challenges at home, growers are increasingly turning to export markets. According to the same BBG survey, UK growers plan to export four times as many berries in 2023 as they did in 2022. Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, said: “The estimated eight percent drop in strawberry plants for 2024 raises alarm bells for our industry. While consumers will not feel the impact right now, it highlights the need for swift action to ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry. “The berry category has historically experienced consistent growth, but growers’ profitability is at an all-time low. If returns from supermarkets continue to fail to address growers’ rising costs, an increasing number of growers will be forced to cut production, shift to exports, or consider growing other crops. “Addressing these concerns is crucial to the domestic market. Berries contribute substantially to the British economy – the value of the industry in year-round retail sales stands at an all-time high of £1.7 billion.(2) We need supermarkets to act now in terms of fair returns and we need support from government in terms of effective seasonal workers Visa scheme rules and surety over the longer term future of the scheme to help ensure the future of the industry.” REFERENCES: Survey conducted by British Berry Growers, June 2023. Kantar monthly sales data 11.06.2023.

• A break in hot weather brings the arrival of bigger and juicier raspberries   

• Peak British raspberry season begins this week and will continue throughout July. 

• Unlike strawberries – which like sunny, clear skies – raspberries thrive under partial cloud cover.   

• Modern varieties and growing techniques mean that Brits will be able to enjoy great quality British raspberries through to December, weather permitting.  

• The berry industry is now worth £1.7 billion in retail sales year-round1 and is estimated to contribute £3.18 billion to the UK economy in the next five years.2  

British raspberry season is finally in full swing as peak production begins this week (w/c 10.07) with prolonged bumper volumes expected throughout the month.3 The late arrival follows the hottest June on record.4 Although the hot sunny weather enabled a strong establishment period for the raspberry crop, it delayed the fruit’s ripening period. Raspberries are historically a forest plant which thrive in warm and shady environments. They benefit from consistent temperatures and partial cloud cover, which was lacking in June. However, a return to average temperatures and mixed spells forecast throughout July5 has created the ideal conditions for the fruit to steadily ripen, creating particularly large and juicy raspberries. Senior agronomists are forecasting that a combination of modern production techniques and carefully bred varieties will ensure that quality British raspberries can be available to consumers well into November and potentially even December. The everchanging weather induced by climate change means that agronomists are now developing robust raspberry varieties to withstand higher temperatures. Breeding experiments between raspberry varieties from places such as the Mediterranean and California are underway to create new crops that can thrive in Britain if temperatures continue to warm. The berry industry in Britain is big business, with the year-round retail sales of berries standing at an all-time high of £1.7 billion.6 The berry industry is estimated to contribute £3.18 billion to the British economy in the next five years.7 Berries remain a staple for British shoppers—fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries) continue to be the most popular fruit item in shoppers’ baskets, with the largest market share (28%) of all fruit sold in the UK.8 Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, the industry body that represents 95 percent of berries supplied to UK supermarkets said: “A break in record hot June weather has given way to warm conditions under partial cloud cover – ideal for the gradual ripening of raspberries. This enables the fruit to grow particularly large and juicy with bumper crops forecast throughout July. “Raspberries continue to be a favourite among Brits, and their versatility makes them a staple in many households. Advanced cultivation techniques means that British raspberries should available on supermarket shelves well into November and even maybe December. That’s brilliant news for consumers, local farmers and the UK economy. Not only do they offer excellent flavour, but they also provide strong health benefits—packed with fibre, nutrients and antioxidants.” July is National Berry Month, which celebrates the seasonality, versatility and health benefits of the nation’s iconic soft fruits – strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. This year’s theme is ‘Nature’s Vitamin’ which will showcase the host of well-known and lesser-known health benefits of berries. Raspberry health facts9: High in vitamin C, which may help prevent and repair skin damage from the sun. Rich in antioxidants that may help protect against cancer and contribute to the health of the brain and neurological system. Provide potassium, which is essential to heart function and proven to lower blood pressure. Contain omega-3 fatty acids can help prevent stroke and heart disease. Contain manganese, a mineral which is necessary for healthy bones. There is a range of over 80 sweet and savoury raspberry recipes available to try on the Love Fresh Berries website at www.lovefreshberries.com/recipes. REFERENCES Kantar monthly sales data 16.04.23 High level assessment of contribution of English berry businesses to the economy Report by Chavereys, commissioned by British Berry Growers, 05.04.23 British Berry Growers Product Sales and Forecast Sales w/c 07.07.2023 Met Office, Climate change impacts June temperature records, https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2023/fingerprints-of-climate-change-on-june-temperature-records Met Office, Long range forecast, https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/long-range-forecast Kantar monthly sales data 16.04.23 High level assessment of contribution of English berry businesses to the economy Report by Chavereys, commissioned by British Berry Growers, 05.04.23 Kantar monthly sales data 16.04.23 WebMD, Health benefits of raspberries, https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-raspberries

A cooler than average April and May means that the nation can expect to enjoy bigger and juicier strawberries than previous years due to a slower ripening period. 

British strawberry season has finally arrived a month later than last year’s first harvests due to the unsettled Spring weather. A cooler than average April and May means that the nation can expect to enjoy bigger and juicier strawberries than previous years due to a slower ripening period. However, the recent bright sunny days and the cooler nights have led senior agronomists to report that the fruit will be particularly sweet. Cooler nights allow strawberry plants to rest well and put their energy gained from the day into producing high natural sugars at night. Over the last 12 months shoppers spent £778 million on strawberries, with British strawberry production expected to hit its peak three weeks later than last year, around the third and fourth weeks of June. This means British strawberries will be in their prime around the big events they are synonymous with, including Wimbledon, Royal Ascot, Lord’s Test Match and Henley Royal Regatta. Developments in growing techniques mean that the UK is now self-sufficient in the nation's favourite fruit for the whole summer season from May to October. Fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries) continue to be the most popular fruit item in shoppers’ baskets, enjoying the biggest market share (28%) of all fruit sold in the UK5. This has pushed the value of the British berry industry in year-round retail-sales to an all-time high of £1.7 billion6. Nick Marston, Chairman of British Berry Growers, the industry body that represents 95 percent of berries supplied to UK supermarkets said: “Our strawberry crop has arrived a little later this year – but the good news is that they are well worth the wait. Cooler spring weather means that strawberries have ripened a little more slowly which allows them to grow particularly large – and the recent bright weather has boosted their sugar content ensuring they’re incredibly sweet tasting too. “Advanced growing techniques now mean we now produce fresh British strawberries from May right through to October. That’s great news for UK shoppers and it means big business for the UK economy too.” REFERENCES Kantar monthly sales data 16.04.23 High level assessment of contribution of English berry businesses to the economy Report by Chavereys, commissioned by British Berry Growers, 05.04.23