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Extreme Hot Days To Rise 49 Per Cent In New Era Of Weather Whiplash
UK growers, suppliers, and retailers face mounting risks from extreme swings between drought and flooding, with new modelling warning that the number of exceptionally hot days could increase by up to 49 per cent by 2050. A new era of climate whiplash, categorised by sudden swings in extreme weather, is set to place increasing pressure on the UK’s food supply chain as unpredictable climate patterns disrupt growing conditions, reduce agricultural output, and threaten the reliab
Pumpkin Buying Rises 10 Per Cent As UK Growers Prepare For Halloween
Pumpkins are attracting more British shoppers ahead of Halloween, with 1.2 million households purchasing one in the four weeks to 4 October 2026, highlighting opportunities for producers like Aldi’s biggest pumpkin supplier Fen Farming which is gearing up for a record season. Figures from Worldpanel by Numerator show the number of UK households buying pumpkins increased by 10 per cent compared with the same period last year, demonstrating growing seasonal interest as retailer
British-Grown Kissabel Apple Season Kicks Off With In-Store Sampling
The 2026 British Kissabel apple season is underway as Waitrose and Worldwide Fruit carry out promotions in London to engage with shoppers and raise awareness of varietal innovation among British growers. Image: Worldwide Fruit Marking the start of this year’s harvest, the initiative on 4-10 October, delivered in partnership with Worldwide Fruit, aimed to showcase British-grown produce and celebrate innovation in apple breeding, reports HortNews. An eye-catching display and s
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Sarah-Jayne Gratton
Organic Farmland Set For 10% Expansion In Push To Unlock Growth
By 2036 organically farmed land across England could nearly triple from 3.4% to 10% under a new government action plan that sets out measures to help producers meet rising demand within a £3.9bn organic market. Launched on 14 October by Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle, the Organic Action Plan for England is designed to increase domestic organic production, strengthen farm businesses, and improve access to the expanding organic food and drink market. The 10-year growth
Outdoor Melon And Aubergine Trials Point To Potential Opportunities For UK Growers
A climate-resilient seed project has demonstrated the potential for watermelons, melons, and aubergines to grow at scale outdoors in the UK, highlighting opportunities to diversify domestic production under a changing climate. Crops more commonly associated with warmer climates have delivered encouraging results at Asthall Manor, near Burford in Oxfordshire, where an experimental growing initiative is exploring ways to strengthen the resilience of the UK’s food system, report
Westfalia Fruit Prioritises Future Of Avocado Category With New Sustainability Roadmap
Avocado specialist Westfalia Fruit has unveiled an updated global sustainability strategy as it bids to lead on the issues that matter most for the future of the category, from water and climate to biodiversity. Image: Westfalia Fruit The plan sets out four priorities across the business worldwide: efficient water use, carbon management, waste reduction, and biodiversity protection. It builds on a successful rise in renewable electricity use across the company’s operations
Why Burnham Must Hear Jenney’s Warning Before EU Reset Hits Britain’s Global Food Supply
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing to pursue closer European ties at the UK-EU summit in Brussels on 20 November, promising lower costs and less paperwork for farmers and food businesses. But Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) chief executive, Nigel Jenney, has repeatedly highlighted a danger that those ambitions must address: additional barriers for essential fresh produce arriving from outside the EU. Farmers Guardian reports that food exports will be at the forefront of
British Carrots Face The Heat As Growers Explore New Varieties And Market Opportunities
British carrot growers are looking to varieties from hotter climates as they seek to strengthen supply resilience and develop new commercial opportunities in a sector worth £242 million in 2025. More than 70 carrot trial plots at the British Carrot Growers Association’s annual Demonstration Day offered a timely opportunity to compare established and emerging varieties under UK growing conditions. More than 300 growers and industry representatives attended the event near York,
Cyberattack Hits French Supermarket Refrigeration And Forces Food Disposal
Hundreds of French supermarkets have been affected by a cyberattack targeting refrigeration systems, forcing some stores to discard food and prompting an investigation into spoilage and reported fires. French finance minister Roland Lescure told Parliament on 13 October that around 700 of the country’s 10,000 supermarkets were affected. He said France’s food supplies were not at risk, but described the incident as “a wake-up call for everyone”. Reuters reported that hackers r
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