Serving more locally grown fruit and vegetables in school meals could unlock new market opportunities for UK farmers and strengthen the nation’s food resilience, according to new research. A report from campaign group Sustain suggests that increasing the use of British produce in school catering could help build stronger regional supply chains while delivering economic, environmental and health benefits. The findings form part of Sustain’s Bridging the Gap programme, which ex

Food prices are expected to increase within weeks if the Middle East conflict continues due to shipping being rerouted thousands of kilometres, adding delays and increasing costs for transport, fuel, energy, insurance, and fertilisers. Trade and retail experts warn that perishable goods and energy‑sensitive products could be hit first as the higher cost of moving goods filters through to supermarket shelves. The deeper concern, however, is that prices could settle at a new, p

UK truck drivers are increasingly being forced to park in lay-bys, slip roads, and industrial estates because formal lorry parks on key freight corridors fill up by mid-afternoon, leaving many with no option but to sleep in their cabs feeling unsafe. That was the message from industry representatives who this week told MPs at a hearing that despite years of government reviews and some local improvements, there is still a chronic shortage of secure, decent parking, and rest f

Experts say the UK needs rapid new investment in anaerobic digestion (AD) capacity with food waste volumes still rising and more material being diverted into the system, as a new report from WRAP finds household food waste continues to be normalised among consumers. Currently, the UK has 756 operational AD plants but Energy Live News reports that industry sources are warning that many smaller facilities are at risk of closure as legacy subsidy schemes wind down. Approximate

Industry calls are growing for critical details to be clarified within the new UK‑EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement after the government this week urged agri-food businesses to take early steps to prepare for its implementation by mid-2027. Defra argues its deal should make food and agricultural trade with the EU “easier, cheaper and faster”, announcing that it aims to finalise negotiations later this year. Encouraging food and farming companies to prepare for a

Getting more UK‑grown organic fruit and vegetables into school meals would simultaneously benefit children’s health, local growers, and the environment, while strengthening the UK’s food resilience in the face of war, climate shocks, and import dependence, according to Sustain’s latest Bridging the Gap report. Drawing on three pilot projects in schools, the report, titled: How to make school food work for children, farmers and planet , finds that school meal programmes that

Lidl has raised its food waste reduction target to 70% by the end of 2030 after already beating its 2025 goal of 40%, launching redistribution and circular-economy trials to accelerate progress and drive lasting impact for the environment and the community. Image: Lidl GB Coinciding with the start of Food Waste Action Week, Lidl has raised its five-year target from 50% to an ambitious 70% reduction. “We've made good strides, but we know we can do more,” pointed out Matt Juden

Multimodal 2026 will welcome a fresh new voice to the logistics and supply chain conversation this year as the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) confirms its participation in the event. Taking place from 30 June – 2 July at the NEC Birmingham, the UK’s leading supply chain and logistics exhibition will feature FPC for the first time, bringing the dynamic and fast-moving world of fresh produce logistics into the spotlight. Representing the UK’s fresh fruit, vegetable, cut flower

DP World is launching Insetify, a dedicated carbon inset trial for ocean freight forwarding customers in Belgium, Portugal and Sweden, to deliver immediate, measurable reductions in customers’ Scope 3 emissions across key European trade lanes. Image courtesy of DP World Starting 1 April, credits will be applied automatically to customers booking ocean freight forwarding services with DP World in Belgium, Portugal and Sweden, meaning qualifying importers and exporters will rec

New research suggests that encouraging children to spend time outdoors could play a simple but powerful role in boosting their fruit and vegetable consumption. A study commissioned by supermarket chain Aldi has found that many parents report their children are more willing to eat fresh produce after taking part in outdoor activities. According to the findings, 42 per cent of parents say it is easier to persuade their children to eat fruit and vegetables after they have been a

Behind every great fresh produce business is something even more valuable than the crop itself: people. From ambitious young professionals stepping into leadership roles, to experienced managers guiding teams through complex supply chains, the UK’s fresh produce and floral sector is powered by individuals whose commitment and passion keep the industry moving. The Fresh Awards 2026 is once again shining a spotlight on that human energy, with several categories dedicated specif

UK fruit growers have warned that proposals to align British pesticide rules with those of the European Union could significantly reduce soft fruit production if introduced without a carefully managed transition period. The concerns were raised by strawberry grower Stephen Tasker, who supplies BerryWorld and has farmed in Nottinghamshire since 2003. Speaking at an industry discussion organised by CropLife UK, Tasker said modelling around the potential withdrawal of crop prote

A new wave of “smart” farm shops is transforming the way British consumers access locally grown food, blending traditional farm retail with modern technology to create flexible, low-overhead outlets for fresh produce. Accprding to The Times , more than 1,500 farm shops are now operating across the UK. These independent retailers play an increasingly important role in reconnecting consumers with local growers while strengthening rural economies. Many of these outlets are adop

Fresh produce shipments are among the time-sensitive goods caught up in growing disruption to global air freight after escalating conflict in the Middle East sharply reduced cargo capacity and forced airlines to suspend or reroute flights. Industry executives warn that the closure or restriction of key regional airspace — including major logistics hubs such as Dubai and Doha — has already left shipments ranging from fresh produce to aircraft components stranded at airports o

Calls for the UK to strengthen its food resilience are growing after a leading food policy expert warned that the country is poorly prepared for major disruptions caused by climate shocks, geopolitical conflict or cyberattacks. Professor Tim Lang, Professor Emeritus of Food Policy at City St George’s, University of London, said the government should consider building strategic food reserves and strengthening domestic production to safeguard national food security. Speaking at

UK supermarket Aldi has pledged to secure at least half of its domestic fresh produce through long-term supply agreements with British growers by the end of 2027, in a move aimed at strengthening the resilience of the UK food supply chain. The retailer said it will expand the number of multi-year contracts it has in place with UK fruit and vegetable suppliers, offering greater certainty to growers and helping them plan for the future in an increasingly volatile production env

Migrant farmworkers faced more reported abuse in the agri‑food sector than in any other industry in 2025, with new data linking the UK, and its fresh produce industry, to multiple cases across global supply chains. Scale Of Abuse In Agri-Food In its latest analysis , the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre recorded 237 abuse cases in agri‑food supply chains in 2025, representing 32% of all incidents in its global migrant worker database. The United States accounted for

Fyffes and CARE International are seeing promising early results six months into a new programme in Costa Rica that is helping rural women in banana-growing communities build leadership skills, launch small businesses, and strengthen household food security. Image: Fyffes Marking both International Women’s Day and the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer, Fyffes has announced strong progress after just six months, with over 200 rural women actively participating, and mor

UK greenhouse growers are racing to upgrade their screening systems ahead of another potentially record-breaking summer, as hotter, brighter conditions increasingly threaten crop quality, yields, and energy efficiency. Image: Bridge Greenhouses With the Met Office's outlook for 2026 suggesting that global average temperatures will be 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels, growers this year will need to take a more proactive approach to climate resilience. For greenhouse growers

The UK market faces the risk of even higher food inflation this year – after jumping to 4.3% last month – if the war in the Middle East continues to disrupt logistics, and increases fuel, energy, and fertiliser costs. Halting four consecutive months of decline, grocery inflation edged up to 4.3% in the four weeks to 22 February, according to new data from Worldpanel by Numerator. In January, grocery inflation reached a nine-month low of 4%, down from 4.7% in December. Econom