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UK’s Import Reliance Risks Fresh Produce Supply Shocks And Price Hikes
The government is being urged to invest in a major expansion of UK horticulture as heavy reliance on imported fruits and vegetables is leaving the country increasingly exposed to climate-driven supply disruptions and potentially higher prices, according to The Food Foundation. A new report from the organisation, titled ‘Farming for 5-a-day: how resilient is the UK’s supply of fruit, veg and beans in a changing climate’, warns that the UK is importing healthy staple foods from
Waitrose Issues ‘Vital Rally Cry’ For Food System Transformation
Waitrose is calling for transformation across the food system with the launch of a two-part YouTube series that explores regenerative agriculture and the retailer’s work with farmers to build a more resilient, nature-friendly food supply. Image: Waitrose Created in collaboration with National Geographic CreativeWorks, the series was filmed at Waitrose’s own farm, Leckford Estate, in Hampshire and aims to raise awareness of the challenges facing global agriculture as well as t
Wholesaler JR Holland Enters New Digital Chapter Following GrubMarket Acquisition
North East England and Scotland fresh produce and foodservice distributor JR Holland has been acquired by US food tech company GrubMarket in a move that will bring new technology, resources, and industry connections to the long-established business. Image: JR Holland The acquisition marks GrubMarket’s first entry into the UK and provides JR Holland with access to the San Francisco-based company’s suite of proprietary AI-powered technology solutions designed specifically for f
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EU Pesticide Plan Could Drive Up Imported Produce Prices
Tighter residue rules proposed for EU imports of fruits and vegetables could raise costs, reduce availability, and reshape trade flows, according to new analysis by the European Commission. European consumers could face higher prices and reduced availability of imported fruit and vegetables if the European Union (EU) moves ahead with plans to prohibit traces of some pesticides that are banned for use within the bloc, reports Politico. An analysis by the European Commission's
New Spitalfields Powers Future Resilience With Major Solar Installation
New Spitalfields Market has completed London’s largest rooftop solar installation in a move that will bolster its long-term operational resilience and help secure the future of one of the UK’s most important fresh produce wholesale hubs. Image: City of London Corporation The new installation, delivered by Vital Energi, comprises 2,730 solar panels with a 1.4 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar array, making it the largest rooftop solar array in London by capacity. The system is expect
Versatile RobotX Secures £1m To Accelerate Agricultural Robot Deployment
University of Essex spin-out Versatile RobotX will receive more than £1 million in investment and innovation funding to accelerate the commercialisation of its intelligent agricultural robots designed to target labour shortages, crop productivity, and food security. Image: Versatile RobotX Described as “pioneering”, the robots – the Fruit and Vegetable Autonomous Picker and the Hydroponic Robotic Harvester – use artificial intelligence, machine vision, embedded intelligence,
Fresh, Fast And Affordable: The Three Demands Reshaping UK Food Choices
Shoppers are refusing to choose between convenience, health and value, creating a significant opportunity for fresh produce businesses that can deliver all three, according to new consumer research. Britain’s food shoppers are becoming increasingly flexible in what they buy, balancing busy lifestyles and household budgets with a growing interest in freshness, nutrition and how food is produced. A new whitepaper from brand and innovation agency cobolt studio suggests that conv
Davies Turner Launches 21-Day China–UK Shipping Route
UK freight and logistics specialist Davies Turner is introducing a seasonal container service that promises to move cargo from China to Britain in just 21 days. The new “Polar Silk Road” service will operate between August and October 2026, using the Northern Sea Route to connect Ningbo with the Port of Felixstowe. Sailings, provided in partnership with shipping company Sea Legend, will run at an almost weekly frequency across an eight-week programme during the Arctic navigat
British Blackberries Hit Sweet Spot After Record Summer Heat
British blackberry growers say this year’s crop could be their sweetest yet, after months of exceptional heat accelerated the development of natural sugars in the fruit. The sustained warmth has produced berries that are noticeably sweeter than the sharp-tasting blackberries traditionally associated with Britain’s hedgerows, according to industry body British Berry Growers. Oli Pascall, managing director of Clock House Farm near Maidstone in Kent, said: “Many people still thi
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