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Unprecedented Aphid Outbreak Puts UK Lettuce Supplies Under Pressure
UK lettuce growers are battling exceptionally high levels of currant-lettuce aphid, with the pest threatening commercially significant crop losses during an already challenging growing season. The British Leafy Salads Association (BLSA) says crisphead, romaine, and iceberg varieties are among those experiencing the greatest impact, with green-leaved lettuces appearing to be particularly vulnerable compared with purple varieties. The scale of the losses is already substantial,
Morocco Poised For Next Phase Of Fresh Produce Export Growth
Morocco’s fresh produce sector is well placed to meet the changing regulatory requirements in the UK and Europe, while building on the production and logistics advantages that have driven its rapid growth, as demonstrated by five Moroccan businesses reaching the FPC Fresh Awards 2026 finals. The country's brimming export potential was a key conclusion from a two-day international workshop held in Agadir in September, and hosted by Morocco Foodex, the government agency respons
Aldi Starts Fruit And Veg Handing At UK’s Largest Automated Warehouse
Aldi has begun handling fresh fruits and vegetables at its £500m Bardon Distribution Centre, improving the speed and cost of moving temperature-controlled produce to stores, and unlocking further capacity for the discounter’s planned UK expansion. Image: Aldi The first pallets, including ginger and avocados, arrived at the Leicestershire site on 16 September, with the first outbound pallet dispatched the following day. The move to handling fresh produce marks the latest phas
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Gone In Hours: £233m Farming Fund Closes As Growers Face Fresh Uncertainty
England’s latest Sustainable Farming Incentive application round has closed less than six hours after opening, prompting demands for urgent answers over support for farmers and growers who missed out. As reported by The Guardian, Defra closed the second SFI 2026 application window at 3.48pm on Tuesday 22 September after receiving enough applications to allocate its £233 million budget. Applications still require assessment: the closure does not mean that all the money has alr
British Apples Get Sassy As Mansfields Harvests First UK Crop
A new arrival is bringing fresh bite to Britain’s apple orchards, with Kent grower Mansfields harvesting its first commercial crop of Sassy apples. Originally developed in New Zealand, the variety has now made the move into British production. Mansfields holds the exclusive UK licence and has confirmed that it is growing Sassy commercially in Britain for the first time. Recognisable by its ruby-red appearance, Sassy combines a crisp texture with sweetness and a tangy edge. It
ICL Expands UK Footprint With New Felixstowe Branch
International Cargo Logistics (ICL) is continuing its growth trajectory and strengthening its UK presence following the launch of a new branch in Felixstowe. The East Suffolk opening represents the fifth UK office for the award-winning global freight solutions provider, with the business also running a further two overseas operations in The Netherlands and Vietnam. Joe Walsh, a seasoned logistics professional is heading up the Felixstowe office, bringing over 22 years’ ind
British Potato Growers Face Losses Of Up To £169m After Summer Drought
British potato growers could face losses of between £80 million and £169 million after extreme heat and drought hit crop yields across the UK and mainland Europe. New analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), drawing on industry data, suggests that weather-related losses could remove more than 3.5 million tonnes of potatoes from production across Great Britain, Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Around 3.1 million tonnes of that reduction is ex
NHS Sourcing Focus Could Create Opportunities For British Fresh Produce
Growing interest in provenance, seasonality and resilient supply chains across NHS catering could create new opportunities for British fresh produce suppliers. The NHS is one of the UK’s largest foodservice providers, serving millions of meals every year. Its purchasing decisions therefore have the potential to influence demand for domestically produced food across the supply chain. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has contributed to the third edition of The
El Niño Disrupts UK Avocado And Asparagus Supplies
El Niño is beginning to disrupt fresh produce supply chains serving the UK, affecting the availability of avocados and asparagus while creating potential risks for mangoes and grapes. With imported produce accounting for more than 80% of the UK’s fruit supply, changing weather patterns across major growing regions are placing established sourcing programmes under increasing pressure. Higher temperatures in Peru have accelerated avocado development, creating shortages of small
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