British Berry Industry On The Brink As Growers Demand Urgent Action

British berry growers are warning of an impending crisis in the sector unless the government and UK retailers step in to provide immediate support. With production costs soaring and grower returns failing to keep pace, nearly half of all strawberry and raspberry farmers are no longer making a profit.

Industry figures reveal that 53% of growers are in poor financial health, and more than a third are actively considering scaling back production or exiting berry farming altogether. Meanwhile, costs of production have surged by 30%, but the average return to growers has only increased by 3.5p per punnet, despite retailers raising shelf prices by as much as 27p.

“This survey is a wake-up call and a sign to take urgent action,” said Nick Marston, chair of British Berry Growers. “The future of this great sector hangs in the balance. It would be a travesty to lose British berries.”

Growers are also calling for practical policy changes to help stabilise the industry. Chief among these is an extension to the seasonal worker visa scheme—from six months to nine—to ensure farms have a reliable supply of labour throughout the harvesting period. The current short-term arrangement is not fit for the sector’s needs, they argue.

Additionally, there is growing concern over the sharp drop in berry exports, which have fallen to one-seventh of pre-Brexit volumes due to complex import regulations and delays. The industry is urging streamlined processes to allow British berries to return to key EU and international markets more easily.

Despite favourable weather conditions this season, strawberry production has fallen by 5% due to some growers cutting planting areas or leaving the sector altogether. Without rapid intervention, stakeholders warn the nation’s berry supply could shrink significantly, impacting availability for British consumers.

The message from growers is clear: without fairer returns, improved labour access, and more supportive trading conditions, the future of British berries is at risk.

Source: The Guardian