Annabel Makin-Jones is a fifth generation Yorkshire farmer and founder of Annabel聮s Deliciously British and Tame & Wild.
On average, the UK imports 拢3.39 billion of fresh fruit every year to keep up with demand from supermarket shoppers.听
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However, UK shoppers are currently finding听empty shelves in supermarkets due to overseas weather conditions affecting the countries we rely on for our fruit and vegetables.
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To minimise the impact of the shortages, customers are turning to local farmers for an alternative source of fresh produce. However, rising costs of production 聳 including energy and wages 聳 is putting additional pressure on British farmers to meet increasing demand.
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The working relationship between supermarket chains and local food producers has long been a subject of debate.
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Large supermarket chains completely hold the power over farmers 聳 many chains squeeze margins, meaning minimal profit for UK producers.
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I am just one of the 300,000 people working in the industry across the UK, battling extreme weather changes, Government legislation, and the rising costs associated with production 聳 all while trying to maintain our profit margins.
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The UK grows fresh produce all year round, however some has to be grown in glasshouses which means prices will be more expensive for supermarkets.
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Unfortunately, rather than accepting this slight increase in cost, supermarkets opt to buy cheaper products outside of the UK. This leaves British farmers with no buy-in or having to slash costs, therefore making little to no profit in order to compete.
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With limited Government support, small British farms struggle to find their voice in the industry and cannot compete with the more affordable, foreign suppliers favoured by UK supermarkets.
There is a massive problem with Government legislation, which听driving the problem.
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The issue is the Government will not involve themselves with the supermarkets and this is what is killing the industry.
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It is because of this cycle that shortages, such as the one we have just experienced, occur.听
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We should be encouraging the British public to back UK food producers and choose to eat produce based on what is in season in this country to support the UK trade.
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If we raise the important issues and struggles surrounding the food and farming industry, and in turn build the public聮s understanding and knowledge of the sector, I think it will lead them to make more conscious food purchasing choices.
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There is a lack of respect for farmers as consumers do not understand the processes we have to go through.
It is so important to give the food and farming industry a voice and raise the important conversation.
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Television personalities such as Jeremy Clarkson and Kaleb Cooper are already making waves by flying the flag for the British agriculture industry with their second series听Clarkson聮s Farm,听but听we need more of a presence in the media to bring the importance of the UK agriculture industry to the forefront of the public eye.
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By encouraging UK shoppers to purchase more local produce, British farmers who currently struggle to meet their expenses will be able to rebuild, returning to the year-round production that halted thanks to rising energy costs, but this cannot happen without Government intervention.听
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We need support for everyone working in the industry across the UK. Action needs to happen now, before it is too late.
