About this episode

Sheila Dillon explores the challenges and opportunities for UK fruit and vegetable growers amidst rising costs and government policy discussions.

Sheila Dillon visits fruit and veg growers across the country to ask what should the government put in its landmark plan to grow more in the UK. With war in the Middle East driving up fertiliser and energy prices and a growing health crisis at home, more homegrown fruit and veg could hold the answers to many of our problems. But those on the ground tell a different story, as businesses prepare to invest more in farms overseas, increase imports or face an ongoing struggle to cover rising costs and competition. Sheila meets a berry grower in Kent, and a tomato producer in Lancashire, who show her the realities of their farms today, and she hears from experts across the sector with their ideas for what could, and should, go into the government’s Horticulture Growth Plan. Produced by Nina Pullman for BBC Audio in Bristol.

People in this episode

Host: Sheila Dillon

Topics covered

• fruit and vegetable production
• UK agriculture
• government policy
• economic challenges
• local farming

Keywords

• fruit
• vegetables
• UK farming
• Horticulture Growth Plan
• economic impact
• local produce
• agriculture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC Radio 4

Places: Kent, Lancashire, UK

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