British Tomato Growers Face Obstacles To Potential Future Growth
- gillmcshane
- Sep 25
- 2 min read
Valued at an estimated £1bn, the UK tomato sector is back on track for expansion following difficult years marred by rising costs and disease but real challenges remain ahead, says the British Tomato Growers Association (BTGA).
Currently, domestic tomato production accounts for only 20% of the sector’s overall value, leaving plenty of room for growth, pointed out BTGA chairman Simon Conway who opened the annual British Tomato Conference yesterday (25 September).
Indeed, after several tough years dominated by high energy prices, rising labour costs, and the challenges posed by Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), expansion is underway once again, reported HortiDaily.
Earlier this year Britain’s largest glasshouse complex Thanet Earth made a clear demonstration of its continued investment in UK food production when in March the business officially commenced construction of its seventh state-of-the-art glasshouse, ready for planting in November.
Other examples include the planned 40-hectare series of low-carbon greenhouses in Essex for Rivenhall, which once operational will offset 7.1% of UK tomato imports from southern Spain, Morocco, and Holland.
Meanwhile projects in other crops are underway at Glinwell, a second generation, family-run business that produces different specialised varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, among other vegetables.
Challenges Lie Ahead
However, despite the growth potential for British tomato production, the situation for growers remains challenging. Political stability is lacking and there is little attention or support for the agricultural and horticultural sector, HortiDaily reported.
Changes in ministers have made collaboration inconsistent. This is evident in labour regulations, which do not align with growers’ needs – even though labour is an essential part of horticulture. The National Insurance increase has further raised labour costs for employers, and, according to Conway, inflation has pushed costs up even higher.
Moreover, the sector continues to struggle with high and volatile energy prices, while the cost of production is rising further due to measures to combat (ToBRFV) and the associated additional measures required.
These were just some of the topics discussed at the 2025 British Tomato Conference where larger numbers of growers and retailers attended than ever before, according to HortiDaily.
Programme Focus: Resilience and Innovation
The conference brought together the British tomato sector at the Chesford Grange Hotel and Conference Centre in Warwickshire.
The annual event serves as a platform for UK growers, allied industries, researchers, and policy influencers to gather, learn, and collaborate.
The 2025 edition focused on a theme of ‘Driving Resilience and Innovation’ and featured in-depth technical briefings, policy updates, and market intelligence focused on the strategic challenges and opportunities within protected cropping and glasshouse tomato production.
Comments