Mike Wood, Kingswinford and South Staffordshire’s Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, is backing the Government’s action to ensure farmers get a fair price for their products. Mike has welcomed the launch of a review into the horticulture supply chain, tackling the contractual unfairness in agri-food production and improving the livelihood of local farmers.
Launched on 14 December, The Fresh Produce Supply Chain Review fulfills a crucial commitment made by the Prime Minister during the ‘Farm to Folk’ Summit in May: To ensure British farmers receive a fair price for their products. Through the Agriculture Act 2020, the UK Government can regulate unfair relationships between producers and buyers when necessary.
Supporting our farmers is a key part of Mike’s plan for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, recognizing the challenges they currently face. Due to increased energy fuel and labour costs, we should be concerned about losing producers in the industry. The production of fruit and vegetables often occurs in rural areas such as Staffordshire and provides indispensable income and jobs to rural communities. The horticulture industry alone contributed £3.3 billion to the UK economy in 2022.
The review will investigate the contractual arrangements in the fresh produce sector, whether there is a need for further legislative action, and how supply chains can be made transparent. mike expressed that the review is detrimental to supporting UK farmers and meeting the Government’s target to produce 60% of the food that we consume. It is a needed addition to the ongoing reviews of food production such as the pork, dairy, and egg industries.
Mike Wood, Kingswinford and South Staffordshire's Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, said: “Farmers are the backbone of our great nation and deserve just compensation for their role in the rural economy. I wholeheartedly welcome the review to improve fairness in the fresh produce supply chains and ensure we keep fresh food on the table for every citizen, including our farmers.”
Prme Minister Rishi Sunak said: “I will always back British farmers, and I pay tribute to their hard work and dedication all year round which keeps shelves stocked and food on our tables. Supporting our farmers and food producers must, and always will be, at the heart of our plans to grow the economy and build a more prosperous country.”
Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said: “I’m committed to backing British farmers and growers, and it’s only right that producers should be paid a fair price. This review will help ensure that is the case, as well as delivering on our commitments from the Farm to Fork Summit to provide greater stability and resilience for the fresh produce sector.”
This is an open consultation. Responses from all stakeholders with a link to the fresh produce sector will be welcomed. The review run until 22 February 2024. The Government will then analyse the responses and provide a formal response that provides a summary of the findings and sets out next steps. More details, including how to take part, can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/review-to-increase-fairness-in-the-fresh-produce-supply-chain
