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UK Greenhouse Sector Maps Out 10-Year Modernisation Plan
A proposed 10-year investment framework could provide a coordinated route for renewing and expanding the UK’s food-producing greenhouse infrastructure by aligning the requirements for finance, energy, labour and technology. Image: GIC The Greenhouse Innovation Consortium (GIC) is developing the UK Greenhouse Modernisation and Expansion Programme (UK-GMEP), a 170-plus-page blueprint that sets out the infrastructure and investment requirements of the sector, reports Hortidaily.
gillmcshane
2 days ago
Bumper British Berry Harvest Points To Self-Sufficiency Opportunity
British berry growers are reporting a stronger-than-expected crop this season, with production running 6% ahead of an already bumper 2025, potentially paving the way for increased domestic supply over imports. Blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries have been among the strongest performers following two-thirds of the harvest, according to British Berry Growers (BBG), and reported by The Guardian. This year’s hot conditions have accelerated ripening and growth, although the
gillmcshane
2 days ago
Incoming greosn COO Daniel Boakes To Drive Global Expansion
Fresh produce investment firm greosn has appointed Daniel Boakes as Chief Operating Officer (COO) to strengthen the leadership team and support the next phase of growth across its international horticultural grower group. Image: greosn | Daniel Boakes, COO Boakes, who was Managing Director of Dole’s UK retail business for seven years, will use his expertise in imported supply and UK retail to complement greosn’s global farming position. According to a press release from the
gillmcshane
2 days ago
Gen Z Food Budgets Tighten As Rising Prices Reshape Shopper Behaviour
The growing cost of food is changing how younger consumers shop for groceries in the UK, with new research indicating that Gen Z is increasingly cutting back on food purchases and buying from different supermarkets. Some 33% of Gen Z consumers, those born between 1997 and 2012, said they are skipping meals or eating less because of the increase in food prices, according to a survey by cashback app tuck, and reported by The Mirror. That compares with 19% of consumers overall,
gillmcshane
3 days ago
Morrisons Price Matches 500 Essentials, Introduces Disney-Themed Fruit Range
Morrisons has pledged “unbeatable prices” on more than 500 everyday products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, ahead of launching a line of Winnie the Pooh-themed fruit packs designed to appeal to children heading back to school. Image: Morrisons & RED Communications The supermarket’s new ‘Unbeatable Prices’ commitment covers hundreds of weekly essentials, including bananas, salad tomatoes, and carrots, and a guarantee that prices will not be beaten by Aldi, Lidl, Tesco
gillmcshane
3 days ago
British Flower Growers Urge Action On Climate Resilience To Safeguard Production
Small-scale flower growers are calling on the UK government to take urgent action on climate resilience, water infrastructure, and support for British-grown produce, warning that extreme weather is threatening small horticultural businesses. To date almost 140 micro growers have signed an open letter by Herefordshire flower farmer Kelly Munford in which she says climate change is no longer a distant concern for growers who represent an industry now valued at £33.6 million a y
gillmcshane
3 days ago
Farm Housing Barriers Threaten UK Food Security, Warns Union
A shortage of suitable on-farm housing could prevent new growers from entering the industry and weaken the UK's future food security, a farming union has warned. The Landworkers' Alliance (LWA) is calling for updated guidance to help local planning authorities assess applications for agricultural dwellings, particularly those connected with smaller farms, market gardens and agroecological enterprises. Its intervention follows the publication of the Government's revised Nation
Sarah-Jayne Gratton
3 days ago
Aldi Growth Drives GBP1.65m Investment At Yorkshire Potato Supplier
Family-owned Cockerill is investing in automation, productivity and regenerative farming after the volume of potatoes it supplies to Aldi more than doubled in three years. A long-standing partnership with Aldi has given Yorkshire potato supplier Cockerill the confidence to invest GBP1.65 million in new technology and future growth. The family-owned business, based just outside York, has supplied Aldi since the supermarket first entered the UK market. It now provides the retai
Sarah-Jayne Gratton
3 days ago
Veg Power Launches Healthy Eating Lifeline For Families Under Pressure
A new toolkit will deliver practical advice, recipes and money-saving guidance to families struggling to maintain a healthy diet as food costs continue to squeeze household budgets. Veg Power has joined forces with leading food charities and community organisations to launch a new Healthy Food Toolkit aimed at helping families prepare affordable, nutritious meals. Supported by The Food Foundation, Felix, the Community Fridge Network, Feeding Britain, Bread and Butter and Food
Sarah-Jayne Gratton
3 days ago
Burnham’s Cost-Of-Living Pledge Puts Fresh Produce Trade And Affordability In Focus
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has promised to help households with the cost of living while taking a cautious approach to the public finances, as the fresh produce sector seeks assurances that future tax and trade decisions will not add further costs to Britain's food supply chains. Speaking during a visit to Kyiv, Burnham acknowledged the "challenging nature of the financial outlook" and said the Government would approach its decisions "prudently and carefully". He stopped sho
Sarah-Jayne Gratton
4 days ago
Aldi on Course for 108.5 Million British Stems as Late-Summer Demand Peaks
Aldi has reported an increase in demand for its British-grown flowers as the season hits its late-summer peak, according to a report published by Insider Media on 20 August. The discounter has already sold more than 100 million British-grown stems in 2026, with demand up 10 per cent, and expects to reach 108.5 million by the end of the year, according to figures reported in the Daily Express on 23 August. Sales of its Truly British bouquet, which retails at £5.99, are up 51 p
Sarah-Jayne Gratton
4 days ago
Fresh Direct Celebrates 60 Years of Serving Britain’s Chefs
Fresh Direct is celebrating 60 years in the fresh produce industry, marking its transformation from a small Oxfordshire greengrocer into a major national supplier to Britain’s foodservice sector. Founded in 1966, the business now supplies thousands of chefs working across restaurants, hotels, pubs, education, healthcare and leisure. Its growth has been underpinned by six decades of fresh produce sourcing, culinary expertise and service to the hospitality industry. Over the ye
Sarah-Jayne Gratton
4 days ago
Pak Choi At 1.1km: Inside The World's Deepest Farm
More than 1,000 metres beneath the North Yorkshire coast, in a science facility better known for hunting dark matter, researchers are cutting pak choi and lettuce from vertical growing towers. The world's deepest underground farm has been established at Boulby mine near Saltburn, a working operation run by ICL-UK and the world's only commercial producer of polyhalite, the fertiliser. The farm is a partnership between the University of Sheffield and Farm Urban, and its purpose
Sarah-Jayne Gratton
5 days ago
London's Largest Rooftop Solar Array Switches On At New Spitalfields
New Spitalfields Market has completed what the City of London Corporation says is London's largest rooftop solar installation by capacity, in a roughly £1m investment aimed at cutting energy costs and emissions at the round-the-clock wholesale site. The array comprises 2,730 solar panels with a total capacity of 1.4 megawatt-peak, installed by Vital Energi at the Walthamstow market in east London. It is expected to generate approximately 1.27 gigawatt-hours of electricity a y
Sarah-Jayne Gratton
5 days ago
Up To 100 Boxes A Day As Mango Season Peaks In Yorkshire
Mango season is delivering one of the biggest seasonal trading periods of the year for South Asian retailers across Yorkshire, with supermarkets in Leeds and Bradford shifting produce by the box rather than the piece and roadside vans operating alongside them. At Abu Bakr supermarket in Leeds, sales assistant Javed estimates the store was selling 60 to 100 boxes a day at the peak of the season, with some customers taking two or three boxes at a time and returning every other
Sarah-Jayne Gratton
5 days ago
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
gillmcshane
Aug 20
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
gillmcshane
Aug 20
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
gillmcshane
Aug 20
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
gillmcshane
Aug 19
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
gillmcshane
Aug 19
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